US DOD awards MP materials $35M heavy rare earth processing contracts
Source: https://www.greencarcongress.com/2022/02/20220223-mp.html
Heavy rare earth elements have higher atomic weights and are generally less abundant than light rare earth elements. They are essential inputs to many critical defense and commercial technologies, particularly permanent magnets instrumental to the performance of electric vehicles, wind turbines, drones, and missile systems. MP Materials Corp. has been awarded a $35-million contract through the US Department of Defense (DoD) Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program to support the construction of a commercial scale processing facility for heavy rare earth elements at Mountain Pass. MP Materials owns and operates Mountain Pass, the only integrated rare earth mining and processing site in North America.