Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) has begun expanding its White Mesa Mill in Utah to enable commercial-scale production of heavy rare earth oxides, advancing its strategy to build a fully integrated Western mine-to-magnet supply chain. The project will add capacity to produce terbium, dysprosium, samarium, europium and gadolinium oxides by the end of 2028, complementing the mill’s existing light rare earth oxide production.
The company said the expansion is expected to support production of rare earth metals, alloys and magnets for the automotive, robotics, data center, energy and defense sectors while strengthening North American and European supply chains. With the global push for electrification and advanced technologies, rare earth elements are critical for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and robotics. The White Mesa Mill, already the only fully licensed conventional uranium mill operating in the U.S., is positioned to become a key supplier of heavy rare earths, which are essential for high-performance magnets.
The approximately $104 million expansion is expected to be funded through a combination of government support and company capital, with commercial production tied to anticipated monazite feedstock from the Donald Project in Australia and other sources. Energy Fuels said the expanded facility is expected to supply a significant portion of the rare earth oxides needed by its pending acquisitions of Australian Strategic Materials Ltd. (ASX: ASM) and Vacuumschmelze GmbH, supporting an integrated mine-to-magnet platform capable of producing enough permanent magnets annually for millions of electric vehicles, humanoid robots and other advanced technologies.
This move comes as Western nations seek to reduce dependence on Chinese rare earth processing, which currently dominates the global supply chain. By developing domestic processing capabilities, Energy Fuels aims to provide a secure source of critical materials for defense and clean energy applications. The company’s integrated approach, from mining to magnet production, could offer a competitive alternative for manufacturers looking to diversify their supply chains.
For business and technology leaders, the expansion signals growing investment in critical mineral infrastructure in the U.S. The White Mesa Mill’s ability to process both uranium and rare earths adds operational flexibility, potentially lowering costs and improving supply reliability. As demand for rare earth magnets surges with the adoption of electric vehicles and automation, the project could have significant implications for industries dependent on these materials.
Energy Fuels is a leading U.S. critical materials company specializing in uranium, rare earth elements, heavy mineral sands, vanadium, and the development of medical isotopes. The company owns several uranium projects in the western United States and has been the top U.S. producer of natural uranium concentrate. In addition to the White Mesa Mill, Energy Fuels is developing three heavy mineral sands/rare earths projects: the Vara Mada Project in Madagascar, Bahia Project in Brazil, and Donald Project in Australia. Based in Lakewood, Colorado, its shares trade on the NYSE American and TSX.
For more information, visit the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/UUUU. The full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/S04FF.
