- Russia President Vladimir Putin has instructed his government to deliver a comprehensive rare earth development program this year.
- U.S. policy is moving in similar but differently aligned ways.
- Ucore’s RapidSX advanced separation technology designed to reduce many of the bottlenecks in rare earth element processing.
When superpowers move, supply chains shift. Earlier this month, Russia’s issued a directive ordering a government plan by November 2025 to ramp up its rare earth metals development (https://ibn.fm/j6HDZ); the announcement signals both urgency and a geopolitical push to control critical mineral resources. Ucore Rare Metals (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF), meanwhile, has been quietly advancing its RapidSX(TM) separation and processing platform and securing U.S. government support to build a Strategic Metals Complex (“SMC”) aimed at delivering rare earth oxide (“REO”) products by the second half of 2026. Ucore is staking its claim as part of the West’s effort to establish reliable, non-China-dependent rare earth and critical mineral supply chains.
Russia holds the fifth-largest reserves of rare earth metals globally, and the country’s directive reflects President Vladimir Putin’s instruction to the government to deliver a comprehensive rare earth development program this year. The order is driven by a desire to increase mining, processing and value-added production domestically, notably to reduce dependency on Chinese imports.
Russia’s reserves under development or ready for development are estimated in the millions of tons, although exact figures vary depending on source and what counts as “ready.” According to Reuters, Russia already has substantial rare earth metal reserves and sees rare earths as essential for high-tech industries, defense and national strategic autonomy. Russia intends to leverage both its natural resources and regulatory momentum to enhance its standing in the rare earths space.
U.S. policy is moving in similar but differently aligned ways. The U.S. Geological Survey’s 2025 draft List of Critical Minerals (https://ibn.fm/t6Ufn) proposes 54 mineral commodities as critical, up from 50 in the 2022 list, reflecting growing concern about supply chain vulnerabilities and foreign reliance. This list underlines that rare earth elements (“REEs”) are firmly in the crosshairs of what Washington views as essential to economic security, technology deployment and defense applications.
Against that backdrop, Ucore’s Western-aligned plan is taking shape with both speed and strategy. Ucore is constructing its SMC in Alexandria, Louisiana, using its RapidSX technology to separate and process REEs. In mid-2025, the company secured an $18.4 million funding award from the U.S. Department of Defense for its phase 2 project, following earlier awards, to scale up the RapidSX commercial infrastructure (https://ibn.fm/JT6im).
The grant supports detailed design, engineering, sourcing long-lead equipment and building the first commercial-scale RapidSX machine in the SMC, as well as related permits and infrastructure. Ucore aims for Early Production readiness of saleable individual rare earth oxide products from the Louisiana SMC in H2 2026. RapidSX is Ucore’s advanced separation technology designed to reduce many of the bottlenecks in rare earth element processing (https://ibn.fm/y2sO1), particularly the separation and purification steps that are historically slow, costly and environmentally challenging. Ucore’s Ontario-based demonstration facility is already operating, and the company has been comparing RapidSX performance against conventional solvent extraction (“CSX”) benchmarks.
The tech promises smaller footprint, faster throughput and possibly less chemical waste or lower operating costs per unit of REO produced. In addition, feedstock agreements are being lined up. For example, Ucore has entered into a supply agreement with Critical Metals Corp’s Tanbreez project in Greenland, which is expected to provide heavy rare earth concentrate feedstock to Ucore’s Louisiana facility when operational (https://ibn.fm/SjkNF).
Ucore’s plan leverages not only technology and feedstock but also government priority. The U.S. Defense Priorities & Allocations System (“DPAS”) rating has been granted to certain contracts for the SMC project, giving Ucore priority access to necessary equipment and materials under national defense production law. That helps de-risk some supply chain delays. By committing to build early production capacity and obtaining nondilutive funding and favorable government status, Ucore is positioning itself to meet growing demand from domestic and allied markets that are increasingly uneasy about supply dependency on China.
Looking ahead, Ucore’s aim is to begin REE output with initially modest volumes in 2025 moving toward thousands of tonnes per year by 2026. If successful, Ucore could become a key supplier in the Western critical minerals ecosystem, filling a gap in processing and refining capacity that until now has been largely lacking. Russia’s directive certainly intensifies competition. But in an era of critical mineral urgency and backed by recent U.S. policy and public awareness, Ucore’s alignment with Western supply chain goals, its RapidSX technology, its government funding and its feedstock deals give it an edge.
For more information, visit www.Ucore.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to UURAF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/UURAF
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