Ucore Rare Metals Secures $18.4 Million DoD Award to Accelerate Rare Earth Element Processing Facility

Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) has secured an $18.4 million phase 2 award from the U.S. Department of Defense to accelerate engineering, procurement, and site work for its Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex. This funding reinforces the company's leadership in domestic heavy rare earth element supply and supports the scaling of its RapidSX column-based solvent extraction platform toward commercial readiness. The phase 2 award expands an earlier $4 million phase 1 demonstration project, which successfully proved the effectiveness of RapidSX in breaking reliance on China-controlled legacy rare earth element separation methods.

The funding will support detailed engineering, long-lead equipment procurement, and early-stage construction at the LA SMC facility in Alexandria, Louisiana. This strategic investment is intended to position Ucore for mechanical completion of the facility in late 2026 with minimal equity dilution, marking a significant step in establishing North American independence in rare earth processing. The development aligns with broader efforts to disrupt the People's Republic of China's control over the North American rare earth element supply chain through advanced technology and domestic production capabilities.

For more information about Ucore Rare Metals Inc., visit https://www.Ucore.com. Additional news and updates relating to the company are available at https://ibn.fm/UURAF. The full details of this announcement can be accessed through the original press release at https://ibn.fm/3EsUA.