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Pentagon backs $1B rare earth expansion. Metal Tech News - June 16, 2026 A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News | Last updated Jun 16, 2026 10:36am Phoenix Tailings Inc. The Department of War has conditionally committed $500 million to Phoenix Tailings to expand domestic rare earth processing capacity. Conditionally commits $500M to Phoenix Tailings midstream buildout. Anchoring a roughly $1 billion financing push to expand U.S. rare earth processing capacity, the U.S. Department of War's Office of Strategic Capital has conditionally committed to a $500 million loan to support Phoenix Tailings Inc.'s buildout of critical metals production capacity. While rare earths are found in relative abundance despite their name, the processing, separation, refining, and metal-making steps needed to turn them into usable materials remain concentrated outside the U.S., leaving energy, defense, manufacturing, and advanced technology supply chains exposed to foreign-controlled capacity. That vulnerability is especially acute for praseodymium, neodymium, terbium, and dysprosium, rare earth elements used in high-performance magnets for electric vehicles, drones, energy systems, robotics, and military hardware. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Energy selected two demonstration projects under a $134 million rare earth program meant to recover, separate, refine, and produce rare earths from mine tailings, electronic waste, industrial residues, and other overlooked feedstocks inside the U.S. Selected under that program, Phoenix Tailings was tapped to design, construct, commission, and operate a demonstration-scale facility in Ardmore, Oklahoma, to produce high-purity rare earth metals from domestic industrial waste-derived feedstocks, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology partnering on the work. The funding commitment from the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital, coupled with private capital, is intended to provide approximately $1 billion to support a significant expansion of critical metal production at existing Phoenix Tailings facilities and a new rare earth separation and metallization facility in New Hampshire. According to DOW, the $500 million conditional loan commitment is meant to scale Phoenix Tailings' domestic processing of rare earth elements, including midstream capacity that bridges the gap between raw extraction and permanent magnet production. "Supporting domestic processing for critical minerals and rare earths is a key focus for OSC, and the rare earth midstream processing capabilities that Phoenix Tailings represents are key shortage areas that need to be rapidly addressed," said Office of Strategic Capital Director David Lorch. "We are pleased to support Phoenix Tailings in building the company's Freedom Facility, which will represent an important step in strengthening the full mine-to-magnet supply chain in the United States." Operating within that midstream segment, Phoenix Tailings specializes in rare earth separation and metallization, a technical process that converts rare earth feedstocks into metal products needed by permanent magnet manufacturers and other industrial users. Designed as a large-scale separation and metallization platform, the company's Freedom Facility in New Hampshire would create capacity capable of serving mines, recyclers, manufacturers, and government entities while producing rare earth metals from a range of feedstocks. "By creating a midstream facility like this, we are empowering virtually every part of the market and rebuilding the rare earth sector as a truly collaborative industry," said Phoenix Tailings Chief Commercial Officer Anthony Balladon. Once operational, the facility is expected to process diverse feedstocks to produce the light and heavy rare earth metals required by American industry, defense systems, and allied supply chains. Before the loan can proceed to financial close, the conditional commitment requires Phoenix Tailings to complete customary additional steps, including financial, legal, technical, and other due diligence requirements. "We will ensure end customers get access to the rare earth metals they urgently need, while helping mines and recyclers get up and running by purchasing their output, which would otherwise have to move through other nations," Balladon said. "The Freedom Facility is designed to serve as the backbone of a resilient Western rare earth supply chain."

Rare earth recovery: DOE injects $134M into mining waste projects. Last updated: June 8, 2026 11:30 am By Penny Langford The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has finalized $134 million in funding for two large-scale demonstration projects designed to extract rare earth elements (REEs) from unconventional feedstocks, including red mud and industrial tailings. The investment, managed through the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI), marks a pivotal shift in the rare earths supply chain 2026 roadmap, moving from theoretical extraction to commercial-scale domestic production. The funding is split between the Colorado School of Mines, which received $67 million for a specialized facility in Louisiana, and Phoenix Tailings, which was awarded $66 million to advance its proprietary metal-recovery technology. Both projects aim to mitigate the environmental liabilities of legacy mining operations while securing the high-purity materials essential for permanent magnets, electric vehicle (EV) motors, and defense systems. Louisiana's Red Mud: A new frontier in REE recovery. The Colorado School of Mines, in partnership with ElementUS and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), will lead the development of a processing plant near the Gramercy alumina refinery in Louisiana. The facility is designed to process "red mud": a caustic bauxite residue produced during the Bayer process for alumina production. Historically, red mud has been treated as a waste byproduct, often stored in large impoundments that pose long-term environmental risks. However, the Gramercy project intends to prove that this residue contains concentrations of rare earth oxides that can be economically recovered and refined into metals. "This is not just about waste management; it is about creating a circular mineral economy," noted a DOE project brief. By utilizing existing waste streams, the Louisiana project bypasses the years-long permitting cycles required for new greenfield mines. This "waste-to-resource" model is a cornerstone of the mining technology 2026 trend, where operators are increasingly looking at historical tailings as secondary ore bodies. Phoenix Tailings: decarbonizing critical mineral extraction. Phoenix Tailings, a Boston-based startup, is applying its $66 million award to a demonstration-scale facility that processes diverse industrial waste streams. Unlike traditional solvent extraction methods, which often rely on heavy chemical inputs and generate significant carbon footprints, Phoenix Tailings utilizes a proprietary electrochemical process to separate and refine REEs. The Phoenix project will focus on producing high-purity rare earth alloys from mine tailings and e-waste. By integrating its technology directly into existing industrial sites, the company aims to reduce the logistical hurdles and energy intensity of traditional refining. The scalability of this approach is a significant factor for investors eyeing critical minerals stocks to buy 2026. Companies capable of producing domestic REEs with a lower ESG footprint are increasingly favored as Western manufacturers seek to comply with stricter carbon-border adjustments and supply chain transparency regulations. Strategic impact on the Rare Earths Supply Chain 2026. The current global landscape for rare earths is characterized by a heavy reliance on Chinese processing. While the U.S. has ramped up extraction at sites like MP Materials' Mountain Pass, the mid-stream processing and separation capacity remains a bottleneck. The DOE's $134 million injection addresses this gap by targeting "unconventional" sources. These are not just alternative ores; they are pre-mined materials that have already undergone the initial energy-intensive stages of crushing and grinding. Key Benefits of Waste-Based Recovery: * Permitting Speed: Utilizing existing industrial sites often falls under current operating permits, accelerating the timeline to production. * Cost Efficiency: The "ore" is already at the surface and partially processed, significantly lowering OpEx. * Environmental Remediation: Extracting valuable metals from tailings can reduce the volume and toxicity of waste piles, lowering long-term closure liabilities for mining companies. For a deeper dive into how these shifts are impacting global markets, see our analysis on Rare Earths Supply Chain 2026: Diversifying Away from Processing Bottlenecks. Mining technology 2026: the rise of "zero waste" Operations. The projects in Louisiana and Massachusetts represent the vanguard of a broader shift in mining technology 2026. As primary grades of critical minerals continue to decline globally, the industry is pivoting toward "total resource recovery." Advanced sensors, automated sorting, and modular electrochemical refining are allowing companies to extract value from streams that were previously considered uneconomical. This technological maturation is vital for domestic supply security, particularly for "heavy" rare earths like dysprosium and terbium, which are often found in lower concentrations but are essential for high-temperature magnets. Investor perspective: Critical Minerals stocks to buy 2026. The move toward waste recovery provides a unique entry point for investors. While traditional mining stocks are subject to geopolitical risks and commodity price volatility, companies involved in the critical minerals service and recovery sector offer a different risk profile. Investors should monitor: * Pure-Play Recovery Tech: Firms like Phoenix Tailings and ElementUS that hold the intellectual property for extraction. * Infrastructure Partners: Companies providing the specialized equipment and modular plants required for REE separation. * Refinery Operators: Established mid-stream players that are integrating waste recovery into their existing portfolios to boost margins. For more on the financial health of the sector, read our latest report on Mining Investment & P-NAV Resets: 2026 Outlook. | Project Lead | Funding Amount | Primary Feedstock | Location | | Colorado School of Mines | $67 Million | Red Mud (Bauxite Residue) | Gramercy, LA | | Phoenix Tailings | $66 Million | Industrial Waste / Tailings | Massachusetts / Multiple | | Total DOE Injection | $134 Million | Unconventional Streams | Domestic U.S. | Conclusion: securing the domestic pipeline. The DOE's $134 million commitment is a clear signal that the U.S. is prioritizing "above-ground" mining to solve its critical mineral deficit. By leveraging the expertise of the Colorado School of Mines and the agility of startups like Phoenix Tailings, the administration is betting that the waste of the past will power the energy transition of the future. For operators and investors, the message is clear: the most valuable ore of 2026 might not be underground, but in the tailings piles and red mud ponds of existing industrial sites. Social Media Snippet: The U.S. DOE just injected $134M into domestic rare earth recovery! From red mud in Louisiana to industrial waste in Massachusetts, the "waste-to-resource" model is officially going commercial. This is a massive leap for the #RareEarths #SupplyChain2026 and #MiningTechnology. Read the full analysis at Skillings Mining Intelligence. #CriticalMinerals #EnergyTransition