Aclara and CAP Launch Rare Earth Metals Plant in Chile
Aclara Metals, a joint venture between Aclara Resources and CAP S.A., has inaugurated a demonstration facility in the Biobío Region to refine rare earth oxides into high-purity metals and alloys. The plant marks a strategic push to establish a Western supply chain for materials vital to electromobility and wind power.
The facility leverages decades of metallurgical expertise from the Huachipato steelworks, employing molten salt electrolysis to convert neodymium and praseodymium oxides into metal form. Designed for a nominal daily output of 175 kilograms, the plant aims for a purity level of at least 99.5%. These production campaigns are intended to stabilize industrial processes and train personnel for future large-scale operations.
Data gathered from this site will provide the technical foundation for a planned industrial project in Louisiana, United States. By refining proprietary electrolysis cell designs, the partnership intends to secure a foothold in a sector currently dominated by non-Western producers. Beyond the immediate technical goals, the project represents a shift toward an integrated, traceable value chain that begins with extraction at the Penco Module and culminates in the production of specialized alloys for permanent magnets.
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