The US is facing pressure to build weapons without relying on China’s rare earth magnets. A New Hampshire company, Phoenix Tailings, is working to help America break China’s chokehold on the processing of critical minerals.

Domestic Production Efforts

Phoenix Tailings uses electrolysis to separate key elements from mining waste, producing neodymium-praseodymium, a crucial component in permanent magnets used in fighter jets, missiles, and drones. The company plans to build a new facility, called the Freedom facility, to extract and produce critical metals, aiming to ensure the Western Hemisphere is free of Chinese influence in the rare earth space.

The US defense sector relies heavily on samarium, but the country’s capacity to produce it is limited. Phoenix Tailings is among the few companies capable of producing the final metal, but its current capacity is only about 200 kilograms per year. The company aims to scale up to 5 tons in the next three months and reach 120-ton capacity by next year or 2028.

Geopolitical Implications

The need to increase production has become more urgent due to the war in the Middle East, which is rapidly depleting US munitions stocks. The US military’s reliance on China for critical minerals has raised concerns about the country’s ability to replenish its stockpiles and maintain its defense capabilities.

The US government has imposed stricter controls on defense contractors sourcing critical materials from China, and companies like Arnold Magnetic Technologies are looking for alternative sources. Arnold has found a solution in France, where a chemical company, Solvay, has restarted separating rare earths from mined dirt.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.