HOUSTON, December 10th (Argus) - The USA Rare Earth Company currently expects its West Texas heavy rare earth project to commence production by the end of 2028, earlier than the originally planned 2030. The USA Rare Earth Company controls the mining rights of the Round Top mountain deposit in western Texas, allowing for the extraction of rare earth elements as well as other key minerals such as gallium and lithium. The company's mining-to-magnet strategy also includes a 5,000-tonne-per-year magnet manufacturing plant in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and a processing and separation laboratory in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. The company stated on Wednesday that it has accelerated the development schedule of Round Top because it expects to start operating its Colorado plant in early 2026. The company plans to complete the final feasibility study in early 2027 and achieve early commercial production at Round Top by the end of 2028. In September this year, the USA Rare Earth Company acquired the British-based rare metal and alloy producer Less Common Metals to integrate its rare metal production capacity.
