US rare earths producer Energy Fuels produced its first kilogram of dysprosium oxide at pilot scale in Utah, aiming for 2kg/week.
It achieved a purity of 99.9pc Dy, higher than the 99.5pc commercial specification, Energy Fuels said today.
These oxides are being produced at the company's White Mesa Mill, using monazite mined in Florida and Georgia. Multiple magnet makers and automakers are eyeing samples to speed up validation.
Pilot production will continue until about 15kg of Dy oxide is produced. The company then plans to begin high-purity terbium oxide production, with the first samples expected in the last quarter of 2025 for customer validation.
Energy Fuels plans to construct and commission commercial-scale dysprosium, terbium and other heavy rare earths separation capacity at its White Mesa Mill, which could be in production as soon as the fourth quarter of 2026.
The company commissioned its commercial-scale light rare earth circuit at White Mesa last year, producing neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide for permanent magnets.
The NdPr oxide has been tested and qualified by magnet makers and will be used in electric vehicles sold in the US, Europe and Asia this year.
