LONDON: A British mining company and a U.S.-based refiner are teaming up to help the United States secure a more reliable supply of rare earth elements—critical materials used in electric vehicles, defense tech, and smartphones.
Pensana Plc has signed a new partnership agreement with ReElement Technologies and American Resources Corporation. The goal? Build a cleaner, domestic supply chain for rare earths, starting with materials from Pensana’s Longonjo mine in Angola.
Under the plan, Pensana could send up to 20,000 tons of rare earth carbonate to ReElement each year. That material would be processed at ReElement’s Indiana facilities, which use a more sustainable method to produce rare earth oxides.
“This is about creating a mine-to-magnet supply chain,” said ReElement CEO Mark Jensen. “It’s not just innovation—it’s independence.”
Company leaders say they’re looking to reduce reliance on foreign sources by using a trade route through Angola’s Lobito Corridor, cutting down export costs and delivery times.
Pensana CEO Tim George said the partnership is part of a bigger push to meet growing demand from U.S. industries and allied defense sectors. The move builds on a recent agreement with Toyota Tsusho and plans for rare earth refining in the U.K. and Asia.
If the plan moves forward, it could reshape how rare earths reach American manufacturers—bringing production closer to home.