Metallium Enters into Binding Collaboration with Ucore Rare Metals to Integrate Metallium's Flash Joule Heating Technology with Ucore's RapidSX™ Rare Earths Elements Separation Technology

Rhea-AI Summary

Metallium (OTCQX:MTMCF) has entered into a binding Technology Collaboration Agreement with Ucore Rare Metals to create an integrated rare earth elements (REE) processing solution in the United States. The collaboration combines Metallium's Flash Joule Heating (FJH) technology for feedstock upgrading with Ucore's RapidSX™ separation technology, which is being developed with an $18.4 million U.S. government grant.

The partnership aims to establish a complete feedstock-to-oxide refining pathway, addressing the critical need for REE supply chain independence from China, which currently controls 85% of global rare earth refining capacity. The integration will take place at facilities in Houston and Louisiana, with commercial terms to be determined following immediate testwork.

Metallium's Texas demonstration plant remains on schedule to begin processing e-waste in early 2026, while Ucore continues developing its Strategic Metals Complex in Louisiana.

Positive

• Strategic partnership creates first U.S.-based end-to-end rare earth elements processing solution
• Integration with Ucore's government-backed $18.4M RapidSX facility provides significant market validation
• Technology combination simplifies traditional REE processing and reduces separation complexity
• Positions both companies at the forefront of U.S. critical minerals supply chain independence

Negative

• Commercial terms still pending and subject to successful testwork results
• Timeline to full commercial implementation not specified
• Significant competition from China's established REE processing infrastructure (85% global market share)

Intent is to Develop a Fully Compatible Feedstock-to-Oxide Refining Pathway to Unlock U.S. REE and Critical Metal Supply Chain Independence

HOUSTON and PERTH, Australia, Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Metallium Ltd. (ASX: MTM; OTCQX: MTMCF) (https://www.metalliuminc.com) announced today it has entered into a binding Technology Collaboration Agreement with Ucore Rare Metals, Inc. (TSXV: UCU; OTCQX: UURAF), a leading North American Rare Earth Element separation company.

The binding agreement will integrate Metallium's Flash Joule Heating (FJH) upgrade platform with Ucore's RapidSX™ REE separation technology to create a fully compatible feedstock-to-oxide refining pathway. Ucore's technology is chloride-compatible, making it a natural fit with Metallium's FJH-upgraded feedstocks and is being scaled at Ucore's SMC in Louisiana with direct funding support from the U.S. government through an $18.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of War (formerly the U.S. Department of Defense).

Under the agreement, each party commits to processing feedstocks supplied by the other at its existing facilities in Houston and Louisiana. Metallium's FJH technology provides the upstream upgrade step, converting diverse feedstocks into high-purity chlorides in a single rapid process, significantly reducing the complexity of conventional REE metallurgy. Ucore's RapidSX delivers downstream separation into individual rare earth oxides. Together they create a potential end-to-end refining pathway, located in the US, for REEs. Commercial terms will be determined following testwork, which is expected to commence immediately. More information on the agreement can be found here: https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02993773-6A1283998&v=c2533a54e2514fb77a8f93f84db686e1125273e9.

Michael Walshe, managing director and CEO of Metallium said, "Ucore is constructing the most advanced REE separation facility in North America and this Agreement positions Metallium at the front end of that supply chain. Our FHJ platform can unlock feedstocks that are currently stranded or heavily discounted, particularly those rich in heavy REEs. FJH also removes much of the traditional separation burden upfront, simplifying the flowsheet before RapidSX takes over. By combining technologies, we are jointly building the foundations of a sovereign, U.S. based refining pathway."

He noted that Metallium continues to progress its Meteoric and Rice University collaborations and the company's Texas demonstration plant remains firmly on track for processing e-waste next year.

Pat Ryan, chairman and CEO of Ucore, said: "We are excited to explore the integration of Metallium's metal recovery platform with our RapidSX. This collaboration directly supports the U.S. Government's strategic objective of developing Western-aligned separation capabilities that are scalable, flexible and feedstock-agnostic. Our goal is to deliver consistent, high-purity rare earth outputs suitable for critical defense and commercial applications. The combination of Metallium's chloride-based upgrading and our RapidSX platform, which has been backed by U.S. government grants, positions both companies at the center of a resilient U.S. supply chain."

Under the binding agreement, Metallium and Ucore will collaborate on integrating Metallium's FJH-based chloride upgrading technology with Ucore's RapidSX separation platform across a wide range of feedstocks. The collaboration will explore opportunities to bypass conventional acid-leach circuits by converting REE-bearing feedstocks into enriched mixed rare earth chlorides or EMRECs, selectively remove deleterious elements and apply FHJ as a pre-treatment for high-Fe/Al feedstocks to enable their acceptance in downstream systems.

Metallium and Ucore will also investigate the recovery of highly strategic heavy REE terbium (Tb) and other high-value elements from lighting waste and phosphor powders.

Due to China's predominance of the rare earths industry -- China controls approximately 85% of global rare earth refining capacity, approximately 70% of mine production and approximately 36% of reserves -- the U.S. government has recognized the need to move expeditiously to secure domestic supply chains. The multi-million strategic partnership announced by the government earlier this year with MP Materials to accelerate U.S. rare earth magnet independence has been a defining moment in the reshoring of REE magnet production and sends a strong signal of continued opportunities for U.S. federal backing for vertically integrated rare earth supply chains.

Metallium Ltd. is pioneering a low-carbon, high-efficiency approach to recovering critical and precious metals from mineral concentrates and high-grade waste streams. The company's patented Flash Joule Heating (FJH) technology enables the extraction of high-value materials, including gallium, germanium, antimony, rare earth elements, and gold, from feedstocks such as refinery scrap, e-waste, and monazite.

The company has secured its first commercial site in Texas via its wholly owned subsidiary Flash Metals USA, Inc. This facility is on track to commence operations early in 2026.

Ucore Rare Metals, Inc. is a Canadian advanced technology company focused on establishing a secure and independent North American rare earth element (REE) supply chain. Ucore is developing its Strategic Metals Complex (SMC) in Alexandria, Louisiana, with support from the U.S. Department of War (formerly the U.S. Department of Defense), which awarded the company an $18.4 million contract to construct its first commercial-scale RapidSX separation module.

Rapid SX is a next-generation rare earth separation technology that delivers faster, more efficient and environmentally responsible separation compared with conventional solvent extraction methods. Ucore's mission is to provide scalable, flexible and feedstock-agnostic separation capacity in North America, enabling the production of high-purity rare earth oxides critical to electric vehicles, renewable energy and defense applications. Further information is available at https://www.ucore.com.

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SOURCE MTM Critical Metals Ltd.

FAQ

What is the significance of Metallium's collaboration with Ucore Rare Metals?

The collaboration integrates Metallium's FJH technology with Ucore's RapidSX™ to create the first U.S.-based complete rare earth elements processing solution, reducing dependence on China's dominance in REE refining.

How much government funding has Ucore received for its RapidSX technology development?

Ucore received an $18.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of War to construct its first commercial-scale RapidSX separation module in Louisiana.

When will Metallium's Texas demonstration plant begin operations?

Metallium's Texas demonstration plant is scheduled to commence operations for processing e-waste in early 2026.

What percentage of global rare earth refining capacity does China control?

China controls approximately 85% of global rare earth refining capacity, 70% of mine production, and 36% of reserves.

How does Metallium's Flash Joule Heating technology benefit the rare earth processing?

FJH technology converts diverse feedstocks into high-purity chlorides in a single rapid process, significantly reducing the complexity of conventional REE metallurgy and simplifying the separation process.