Does France Emerge as Rare Earth Hub? USA Rare Earth Hedges Its Biggest Risk Midstream with 12.5% Interest in Carester

[DOC]

USA Rare Earth's Carester investment hedges midstream risk. Rare earth separation, not mining, determines supply chain success. (read full article...)

 

[Deven]

USA Rare Earth's Carester investment hedges midstream risk. Rare earth separation, not mining, determines supply chain success. (read full article...)

www.lesscommonmetals.com/less-common-metals-establishes-strategic-presence-in-france-to-support-eu-supply-chains/#:~:text=LCM%20is%20considering%20Lacq%20as%20the%20location,Europe%20*%20Reinforcing%20regional%20supply%20chain%20resilience

{USAR subsidiary] UK-Based LCM announced construction of a plant in Lacq France in mid 2025, likely based on expectations of a relationship with Carester.
But in my view the capital infusion is probably related in good part to this statement: "The broader partnership provides the Company [USAR] and its subsidiary Less Common Metals (“LCM”) Europe the right to purchase some of Carester’s oxide output from its Caremag facility and access for USA Rare Earth to Carester engineering capabilities and related intellectual property for separation, processing, and recycling".

If you recall back in time...
USA Rare Earth spent years promoting a "Continuous Ion Exchange" (CIX) technology as the game-changing process that would make Round Top’s low-grade ore economically viable. Then abruptly in December 2025, USA Rare Earth nonchalantly announced it was switching to heap leaching and standard Solvent Extraction techniques instead. I believe the Definitive Feasibility Study for Round Top is expected to be complete by early 2027. It may be that Carester now plays a part in what that solution will look like.