Ucore Updates on its US Heavy Rare Earth Production and DPAS Status
Ucore Rare Metals (OTCQX: UURAF) has reported significant progress on its US$22.4 million funding agreement with the US Army Contracting Command-Orlando for rare earth element separation operations in Alexandria, Louisiana. The company has achieved several key milestones, including the receipt of a Defense Priorities & Allocations System (DPAS) DO-B8 rating, which prioritizes equipment orders for national defense requirements.
The project focuses on constructing a production-ready commercial RapidSX™ machine, with completed initial field work activities and exceeding 75% milestone in long lead time material sourcing. The facility aims to process hundreds of tonnes of heavy and light total rare earth oxide, with plans to expand to 2,000 tonnes per annum in Stage 1. The company has also engaged ImpactDeck for investor relations services at CAD$25,000 for a six-month term.
Ucore Rare Metals (OTCQX: UURAF) ha riportato progressi significativi sul suo accordo di finanziamento da 22,4 milioni di dollari con l'US Army Contracting Command-Orlando per operazioni di separazione di terre rare ad Alexandria, Louisiana. L'azienda ha raggiunto diverse tappe chiave, tra cui l'ottenimento di una rating Defense Priorities & Allocations System (DPAS) DO-B8, che dà priorità agli ordini di equipaggiamento per esigenze di difesa nazionale.
Il progetto si concentra sulla costruzione di una macchina commerciale RapidSX™ pronta per la produzione, con le prime attività sul campo completate e superando la soglia del 75% di avanzamento nelle forniture di materiali a lungo lead time. L'impianto mira a processare centinaia di tonnellate di ossidi totali delle terre rare pesanti e leggere, con piani per espandersi a 2.000 tonnellate all'anno nella Fase 1. L'azienda ha inoltre ingaggiato ImpactDeck per servizi di relazioni con gli investitori al costo di CAD$25.000 per un periodo di sei mesi.
Ucore Rare Metals (OTCQX: UURAF) ha reportado avances significativos en su acuerdo de financiación por 22,4 millones de dólares con el US Army Contracting Command-Orlando para operaciones de separación de elementos de tierras raras en Alexandria, Louisiana. La empresa ha alcanzado varios hitos clave, incluida la obtención de una clasificación Defense Priorities & Allocations System (DPAS) DO-B8, que prioriza los pedidos de equipo para requisitos de defensa nacional.
El proyecto se centra en la construcción de una máquina comercial RapidSX™ lista para producción, con las primeras labores de campo completadas y superando el umbral del 75% en el abastecimiento de materiales de gran plazo. La instalación aspira a procesar miles de toneladas de óxidos totales de tierras raras pesadas y ligeras, con planes de ampliar a 2.000 toneladas por año en la Etapa 1. La empresa también ha contratado a ImpactDeck para servicios de relaciones con inversionistas por CAD$25,000 por un periodo de seis meses.
Ucore Rare Metals (OTCQX: UURAF)는 루이지애나주 알렉산드리아에서 미국 육군 계약사령부-올랜도와 체결한 약 2,240만 달러의 자금 조달 계약에 대한 상당한 진전을 보고했습니다. 이 회사는 DPAS DO-B8 등급을 받는 등 여러 중요한 이정표를 달성했으며, 이는 국가 안보 요구를 위한 장비 주문에 우선순위를 부여합니다.
프로젝트는 생산 준비가 된 상용 RapidSX™ 기계의 구축에 중점을 두고 있으며, 초기 현장 작업이 완료되었고 장기 소요 자재 조달에서 75%의 이정표를 넘어섰습니다. 설비는 수백 톤의 중·경량 토탈 희토류 산화물을 처리하고 1단계에서 연간 2,000톤으로 확장할 계획입니다. 또한 회사는 투자자 관계 서비스를 6개월 기간 동안 CAD$25,000으로 ImpactDeck를 고용했습니다.
Ucore Rare Metals (OTCQX: UURAF) a enregistré des progrès significatifs sur son accord de financement de 22,4 millions de dollars avec l’US Army Contracting Command-Orlando pour les opérations de séparation des éléments des terres rares à Alexandria, Louisiane. L’entreprise a atteint plusieurs étapes clés, notamment l’obtention d’une classification Defense Priorities & Allocations System (DPAS) DO-B8, qui donne la priorité aux commandes d’équipements pour les besoins de la défense nationale.
Le projet vise à construire une machine RapidSX™ commerciale prête pour la production, avec des travaux de terrain initiaux achevés et un avancement dépassant 75% dans l’approvisionnement en matériaux à longue période. L’installation vise à traiter des centaines de tonnes d’oxydes totaux des terres rares lourdes et légères, avec des plans pour s’étendre à 2 000 tonnes par an lors de l’étape 1. La société a également engagé ImpactDeck pour des services de relations investisseurs à CAD$25,000 pour une période de six mois.
Ucore Rare Metals (OTCQX: UURAF) hat bedeutende Fortschritte bei seiner Finanzierungsvereinbarung in Höhe von 22,4 Millionen US-Dollar mit dem US Army Contracting Command-Orlando für die Trennung seltener Erden in Alexandria, Louisiana, gemeldet. Das Unternehmen hat mehrere wichtige Meilensteine erreicht, darunter die Erreichung einer Defense Priorities & Allocations System (DPAS) DO-B8-Bewertung, die Bestellungen von Ausrüstung für nationale Verteidigungsbedürfnisse priorisiert.
Das Projekt konzentriert sich darauf, eine produktionsbereite kommerzielle RapidSX™-Maschine zu errichten, mit abgeschlossenen ersten Feldarbeiten und der Überschreitung der 75%-Meilenstein bei der Beschaffung von Materialien mit langer Vorlaufzeit. Die Anlage zielt darauf ab, Hunderte von Tonnen an schweren und leichten Gesamtardyrautoxid(en) zu verarbeiten, mit Plänen, in Phase 1 auf 2.000 Tonnen pro Jahr zu erweitern. Das Unternehmen hat auch ImpactDeck für Investor Relations-Dienstleistungen zu CAD$25.000 für eine Laufzeit von sechs Monaten beauftragt.
Ucore Rare Metals (OTCQX: UURAF) أبلغت عن تقدم مهم في اتفاقية تمويل بقيمة 22.4 مليون دولار مع US Army Contracting Command-Orlando للعمليات الخاصة بفصل عناصر الأرض النادرة في ألكسندريا، لويزيانا. قامت الشركة بتحقيق عدة مراحل رئيسية، من بينها الحصول على تصنيف Defense Priorities & Allocations System (DPAS) DO-B8 الذي يعطي أولوية لطلبات المعدات وفق احتياجات الدفاع الوطني.
يركز المشروع على بناء آلة RapidSX™ تجارية جاهزة للإنتاج، مع إتمام الأنشطة الميدانية الأولية وتجاوز مرحلة 75% في توريد المواد طويلة الأجل. المرفق يهدف إلى معالجة مئات الأطنان من أكاسيد الأرض النادرة الثقيلة والخفيفة، مع خطط للتوسع إلى 2,000 طن سنوياً في المرحلة 1. كما أن الشركة قد تعاقدت مع ImpactDeck لخدمات العلاقات مع المستثمرين مقابل CAD$25,000 لمدة ستة أشهر.
Ucore Rare Metals (OTCQX: UURAF) 已就与美军合同指挥部-奥兰多在路易斯安那州亚历山大里亚开展的稀土分离作业融资额为22.4百万美元的协议取得显著进展。公司已取得若干关键里程碑，包括获得Defense Priorities & Allocations System (DPAS) DO-B8评级，该评级为满足国防需求的设备订购设定优先级。
该项目聚焦于建设一台面向生产的商业 RapidSX™ 机器，初步现场工作已完成，长期前置材料采购的里程碑达到75%以上。该设施目标是处理大量的重稀土和轻稀土氧化物，总产量达到数百吨，并计划在第一阶段扩展至每年2,000 吨。公司还已聘请 ImpactDeck 提供投资者关系服务，费用为CAD$25,000，为期六个月。
- None.
- Production capacity not expected until H2-2026
- Significant capital expenditure required for full 2,000 tpa TREO Stage 1 implementation
Ucore announces:
Under its US
$22.4 million funding agreement with the US Army Contracting Command-Orlando to launch its RapidSX™ rare earth element separation technology operations in Alexandria, Louisiana, the following progress updates:Completion of initial Alexandria field work activities
The application of Defense Priorities & Allocations System ("DPAS") status to work being performed on the project
RapidSX™ full commercial scale-up engineering and testing program
Continued execution towards feedstock partnerships
Long Lead Time Material identification and sourcing
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2025) - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) ("Ucore" or the "Company") is pleased to provide progress updates regarding its US
Defense Priorities & Allocations System ("DPAS") Rating
The Company is also pleased to report on the recent application of a DPAS DO-B8 rating to purchase orders related to the Project.
A DPAS rating imposes legal obligations on suppliers of equipment to the Louisiana SMC such that the fulfillment of any order for the SMC must be afforded preferential treatment over unrated orders in order to meet national defense and emergency preparedness requirements.
The DPAS is a regulation administered by the Department of Commerce that implements the priorities and allocations authority contained in Title 1 of the Defense Production Act ("DPA") of 1950 with respect to industrial resources, essentially prioritizing DPAS rated orders over all others in order to meet national defense and emergency preparedness requirements.
The Company's contract with US Army Contracting Command-Orlando was modified on July 9, 2025 to afford the contract DPAS status.
Figure 1 - Ucore's Demonstration-Scale Transition to Commercial-Scale US Rare Earth Separation
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1119/267135_7128af83a4aff9e4_001full.jpg
Louisiana SMC
Current updates include:
Completion of initial Alexandria field work activities for acquired, and as applicable, properties over which the Company has a right of first refusal ("ROFR"), including:
Boundary surveys
Final Level II Environmental Site Assessment
Topographical surveys
Utility surveys
Revit model of the original building design with a confirming dimensional 3D-building scan
Existing building slab engineering analysis
Figure 2 - Final Level II Environmental Site Assessment Bore Hole Drilling
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1119/267135_7128af83a4aff9e4_002full.jpg
RapidSX™ full commercial scale-up engineering and confirmation testing program, including:
Design engineering, material sourcing, and initial commencement of full-scale RapidSX™ equipment confirmation testing
Exceeding the
50% progress milestone for system engineering transition planning from the Commercialization and Demonstration Facility ("CDF") to the SMC based on projected Louisiana SMC feedstocks
Continued execution towards feedstock partnerships
August 2025, in-country due diligence meetings at multiple prospective partners' sites and continued definitive agreement discussions
Long Lead Time Material ("LLTM") identification and sourcing
Exceeding the
75% milestone towards finalization of the bill of materials and sourcing for all primary and supporting LLTM equipment to support planned H2-2026 US Government demonstrations of a single RapidSX™ machine
The primary objectives of the Phase II Project are:
- Construct and demonstrate optimized full-scale RapidSX™ technology modules at the CDF.
- Conduct a systems engineering approach to facilitate a knowledge transfer of the innovative RapidSX™ separation technology from the CDF to the SMC based on selected Louisiana SMC feedstocks.
- Install production separation capacity at the SMC capable of processing hundreds of tonnes of heavy and/or light total rare earth oxide ("TREO") processing utilizing the RapidSX™ technology equipment platform.
It is anticipated that upon the successful completion of the Project, Ucore will continue to construct and install its RapidSX™ machines in succession to complete its planned 2,000 tonne per annum ("tpa") TREO Stage 1[i] construction and simultaneous production project. The concurrent construction and production efforts are enabled by the unique modular and adaptable attributes of the RapidSX™ technology platform, coordinated with a prudent capitalization plan.
"During the Phase I government demonstration program, Ucore made significant strides in the validation and commercialization of its RapidSX™ separation technology platform," stated Mike Schrider, P.E., Ucore's Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "The Phase II full-scale underway assembly and engineering transition work simply builds upon the approximately 5,500 hours of Demonstration Plant run time in a simulated commercial environment, and allows us to truly optimize the scaled-up equipment against the millions of collected system data points assembled throughout the collection and analysis of nearly 11,000 process samples.
"Ucore has established a decisive pathway to heavy rare earth processing in the United States based on a technology that significantly modernizes and improves the fundamentally sound and well-proven chemistry of solvent extraction."
Further, Ucore Rare Metals Inc. is pleased to announce that it has engaged the services of ImpactDeck, a leading investor relations firm specialising in metals and mining companies. ImpactDeck will assist Ucore Rare Metals Inc. in increasing its visibility within the investment community and enhancing engagement with key investors.
In consideration of the services provided, Ucore Rare Metals Inc. will pay ImpactDeck a prepaid cash consideration of
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About Ucore Rare Metals Inc.
Ucore is focused on rare- and critical-metal resources, extraction, beneficiation, and separation technologies with the potential for production, growth, and scalability. Ucore's vision and plan is to become a leading advanced technology company, providing best-in-class metal separation products and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry.
Through strategic partnerships, this plan includes disrupting the People's Republic of China's control of the North American REE supply chain through the near-term development of a heavy and light rare-earth processing facility in the US State of Louisiana, subsequent SMCs in Canada and Alaska and the longer-term development of Ucore's
Ucore is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "UCU" and in the United States on the OTC Markets' OTCQX® Best Market under the ticker symbol "UURAF."
For further information, please visit www.ucore.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements." All statements in this release (other than statements of historical facts) that address future business development, technological development and/or acquisition activities (including any related required financings), timelines, events, or developments that the Company is pursuing are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance or results, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.
Regarding the disclosure in the press release above about the OTA and the expected successful progress of the Project and the resulting milestone payments from the DoD, the Company has assumed that the Project (including each of its milestones) will be completed in a satisfactory manner and in a reasonable period of time within approximately the next two years. For additional risks and uncertainties regarding the Company, the CDF, the Demo Plant and the Project (generally), see the risk disclosure in the Company's MD&A for Q2 2025 (filed on SEDAR on August 28, 2025) (www.SEDAR.com) as well as the risks described below.
Regarding the disclosure above in the "About Ucore Rare Metals Inc." section, the Company has assumed that it will be able to procure or retain additional partners and/or suppliers, in addition to Innovation Metals Corp. ("IMC"), as suppliers for Ucore's expected future Strategic Metals Complexes ("SMCs"). Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be found to complete the Demo Plant commissioning and demonstration schedule and also later prepare a new National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report that demonstrates that the Bokan Mountain Rare Earth Element project ("Bokan") is feasible and economically viable for the production of both REE and co-product metals and the then prevailing market prices based upon assumed customer offtake agreements. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be secured to continue the development of the specific engineering plans for the SMCs and their construction. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, without limitation: IMC failing to protect its intellectual property rights in RapidSX™; RapidSX™ failing to demonstrate commercial viability in large commercial-scale applications; Ucore not being able to procure additional key partners or suppliers for the SMCs; Ucore not being able to raise sufficient funds to fund the specific design and construction of the SMCs and/or the continued development of RapidSX™; adverse capital-market conditions; unexpected due-diligence findings; the emergence of alternative superior metallurgy and metal-separation technologies; the inability of Ucore and/or IMC to retain its key staff members; a change in the legislation in Louisiana or Alaska and/or in the support expressed by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority ("AIDEA") regarding the development of Bokan; the availability and procurement of any required interim and/or long-term financing that may be required; and general economic, market or business conditions.
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined by the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
CONTACTS
Mr. Michael Schrider, P.E., Ucore Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, is responsible for the content of this news release and may be contacted at 1.902.482.5214.
For additional information, please contact:
Mark MacDonald
Vice President, Investor Relations
Ucore Rare Metals Inc.
1.902.482.5214
mark@ucore.com
[i] Followed by a 5,000± tpa TREO total Stage 2 capacity, with an ultimate capacity of 10,000± TREO tpa in Stage 3.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/267135
FAQ
What is the value of Ucore's funding agreement with the US Army?
What is the significance of UURAF's DPAS DO-B8 rating?
What is the planned production capacity for Ucore's Louisiana facility?
When will Ucore's RapidSX™ technology be operational for US Government demonstrations?
How much testing has been done on Ucore's RapidSX™ technology?
