Rainbow Rare Earths is set to revolutionize rare earth element recovery in South Africa.
The company announced it will be the first to provide a low-cost, low-capital solution to extract high-value rare earth elements from phosphogypsum waste in Limpopo province. This initiative is bolstered by the establishment of a world-class laboratory in Johannesburg and a partnership with Neo Performance Materials for solvent extraction technology.
Rainbow Rare Earths’ Innovative Approach to REEs
Rainbow Rare Earths is pioneering a method to recover rare earth elements (REEs) from phosphogypsum, a waste product from phosphoric acid production. This innovative approach aims to address both environmental concerns and the demand for critical materials essential for technologies like electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.
The company has commissioned a pilot plant and is currently validating its extraction process at Neo’s facility in Estonia. This step is crucial for ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the extraction method before scaling up operations.
South Africa: Key figures on rare earth elements recovery
- .9-million cash held by Rainbow as at June 30
Next Steps for Rainbow Rare Earths
- Publication of a prefeasibility study in the last quarter of this year
- Completion of the definitive feasibility study (DFS) next year
- Simultaneous permitting process alongside DFS finalization
Rainbow Rare Earths is on track to transform waste into valuable resources, driving both environmental recovery and technological advancement.
