Energy Fuels Inc. has successfully qualified its high-purity dysprosium oxide for use in permanent magnets, marking a significant advancement in the rare earth elements sector. The company, based in Lakewood, Colorado, announced that its dysprosium oxide, produced at the White Mesa Mill in Utah, meets the stringent purity and quality assurance standards set by a prominent South Korean automotive manufacturer.
Dysprosium oxide is essential for enhancing the performance of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets. These magnets play a crucial role in powering electric vehicles, advanced robotics, and various commercial applications. They are also vital components in defense systems, including drones and missile guidance technologies.
Mark S. Chalmers, CEO of Energy Fuels, expressed pride in this achievement, stating, “Production of dysprosium oxide that meets stringent magnet specifications is yet another key milestone in the Company’s critical materials strategy.” He emphasized the unique capabilities of Energy Fuels in producing high-purity rare earth oxides from monazite at the White Mesa Mill.
The announcement follows the company’s earlier news on September 9, 2025, regarding the qualification of its neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide for similar applications. With both “light” and “heavy” rare earth elements now qualified for use in permanent magnet applications, Energy Fuels positions itself as a leader in revitalizing the U.S. rare earth supply chain.
The production of dysprosium oxide is particularly significant for U.S. national security, as the supply of heavy rare earth oxides is primarily sourced from China. Following export controls imposed by China on several rare earth elements in April 2025, the need for domestic production has become even more critical.
Energy Fuels commenced production of dysprosium oxide in August 2025 and has since produced approximately 29 kilograms of the material, achieving a purity of 99.9%, surpassing the automotive requirement of 99.5%.
Future Production Plans and Expansion
Looking ahead, Energy Fuels plans to initiate pilot production of terbium oxide at the White Mesa Mill next week, with expectations for qualification samples to be available by early 2026. Terbium is another crucial element for high-temperature permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and key defense applications.
Following the terbium oxide pilot, the company intends to introduce pilot production of gadolinium and samarium oxides. Samarium is particularly important for applications requiring stability in extreme temperatures, such as missile guidance systems and jet engines.
Energy Fuels is also moving forward with plans to establish commercial-scale production capabilities for dysprosium, terbium, and potentially samarium oxides at the White Mesa Mill. The proposed refining circuits could yield up to 48 metric tons of dysprosium oxide and 14 metric tons of terbium oxide annually, contingent upon available feedstock.
This initiative reflects the company’s commitment to enhancing domestic production capabilities and reducing reliance on foreign sources for critical materials.
Energy Fuels, recognized as a leading U.S. producer of critical materials, operates several uranium projects across the western United States and has been the primary U.S. supplier of natural uranium concentrate. The White Mesa Mill is notable as the only fully licensed and operational conventional uranium processing facility in the United States.
In addition to its core uranium operations, the company is also exploring the recovery of medical isotopes for emerging cancer treatments and is developing heavy mineral sands projects in Madagascar, Brazil, and Australia.
For more information about Energy Fuels and its initiatives, visit the company’s website at www.energyfuels.com.
This development not only highlights Energy Fuels’ role in the critical materials sector but also underscores the increasing importance of domestic production in ensuring supply chain stability for essential technologies.
