TheTechno Optimist.

White Mesa heavy rare earth oxidesEnergy Fuels Inc—Energy Fuels begins Phase 1 expansion at White Mesa Mill for commercial heavy rare earth oxide productionWhite Mesa heavy rare earth oxidesEnergy Fuels Inc—Energy Fuels produces first kilogram of 99.9% pure terbium oxide at White Mesa Mill, ending decades-long US supply gap

Energy Fuels Inc

Uranium, rare earth, monazite, dysprosium, terbium

USpublicest. 2006energyfuels.com (opens energyfuels.com)Checked 11 Oct

The brief

Analyst view
  • White Mesa Mill is the only US facility licensed to process radioactive monazite ore.
  • March 2026: first kg of 99.9% terbium oxide, 30 kg dysprosium oxide; ends decades of zero US production.
  • Expansion targets commercial heavy rare earth oxides by end-2027 (Dy, Tb); samarium, europium by 2028.

Technical approach

As reported
Monazite processing

Radioactive ore handling

Monazite is radioactive and rich in heavy rare earths (Dy, Tb) but poor in light ones. Requires nuclear license; White Mesa is the only US mill with one.

Mine-to-oxide

Ore to finished oxides

Sources monazite domestically and from Australia, Madagascar, Brazil. Converts ore to high-purity oxides without intermediate steps.

Heavy rare earth focus

Dy, Tb, Sm, Eu, Gd for magnets

Targets heavy rare earths critical for permanent magnets, not light ones (Nd, Pr). Supply-constrained and under Chinese export controls.

Primer