Bear Lodge Project and Demonstration Plant Progress
Rare Element Resources Ltd. has shared recent updates on its Bear Lodge Rare Earth Project in Wyoming and the current status of its rare earth separation demonstration plant located in Upton, Wyoming. This project is significant for producing rare earth elements essential in various high-tech applications.
In March 2026, the Bear Lodge Project received designation as a Covered Project under the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council’s FAST-41 programme. The U.S. Forest Service is now leading the National Environmental Policy Act review, with federal and state permitting and licensing expected to be completed by early 2028.
“Our initial permitting progress has been seamless,” stated Ken Mushinski, President and CEO of Rare Element Resources. He appreciated the quick response from both federal and Wyoming state agencies as they advance together.
Demonstration Plant Developments
Progress continues at the Upton demonstration plant towards achieving full-scale operations. Utilising proprietary technology, the facility aims to produce high-purity neodymium/praseodymium (NdPr) oxide, vital for high-strength permanent magnets in defence and high-tech manufacturing. However, operational and equipment adjustments have delayed full operations.
Full operational commencement is anticipated by late summer 2026. The plant will operate for up to 12 months to collect crucial operational, economic, and engineering data necessary for developing a full-scale commercial separation facility.
Mushinski commented, “By fine-tuning our primary processing circuit and resolving these filtration inefficiencies now, we are effectively de-risking our commercial trajectory. Once this front-end optimization is complete, the primary circuit will continuously feed our completed separation circuits to yield high-purity NdPr.”
Currently, the demonstration plant employs more than 25 personnel, with staffing managed by contractor Wood PLC of Sheridan, Wyoming. This project aims to provide a secure domestic source of critical rare earths necessary for U.S. defence and high-tech applications, thereby reducing reliance on foreign sources.
Supplying essential materials for industries such as electronics, defence, and renewable energy technologies, the Bear Lodge Rare Earth Project represents a significant opportunity. Successfully implementing this project could lead to a stable and self-reliant supply chain for rare earth materials in the United States.
Collaborations with federal and state agencies underscore the project’s strategic importance in national infrastructure and technological advancement.
Last updated: 10 June 2026, 4:15 am
