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Highlights
Ionic Rare Earths’ JV granted land for Brazil’s first rare earths innovation centre
Poços de Caldas municipality shows unanimous support for CRITR initiative
Facility to process recycled magnets and feedstocks for clean energy systems
Ionic Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:IXR), part of the ASX 300 index, has advanced its role in the global critical minerals sector through a joint venture breakthrough in Brazil. The company, via its equal-partnership entity Viridion Rare Earth Technologies Ltda with Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd (ASX:VMM), has been officially allocated a land parcel by the Municipality of Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais. This area will serve as the site for South America’s first rare earth refining and recycling centre, known as CRITR — the Centre for Rare Earths Innovation, Technology and Recycling.
Land Allocation Marks Municipal Backing for Strategic Industrial Development
The land grant spans a designated site within the Poços de Caldas Industrial Zone and was approved unanimously by the city council. This move signals strong local and governmental support for the joint venture’s mission to establish an ex-China rare earth supply chain in South America. The site will host infrastructure dedicated to refining Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC) from the Colossus Project and recycled neodymium-based magnets sourced from local electronic waste streams.
CRITR is expected to commence operations in the coming years, with planning contingent on appropriate regulatory approvals and capital support.
Brazil’s Industrial Strategy Aligns with Sovereign Supply Chain Push
The CRITR development aligns closely with the objectives of Brazil’s national industrial framework, “Nova Indústria Brasil.” As a pilot-scale facility, it is intended to strengthen the nation’s capacity for refining and recycling critical materials that are key to electric mobility, renewable energy, and strategic defence industries. In collaboration with local recyclers and manufacturers, CRITR aims to position Brazil as a hub for magnet recycling and rare earth recovery.
The site will operate using feedstock from Brazilian sources and integrate domestic e-waste into its supply flow, reinforcing circular economy practices in the region.
Support from Brazilian Development Banks Bolsters Project Pathway
The initiative has attracted significant institutional backing, having been shortlisted by both the Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) and FINEP, the national innovation funding agency. These entities are part of a multi-billion real program supporting rare earth technology innovation across the country.
Viridion’s inclusion in this program underscores the joint venture’s alignment with Brazil’s broader goals of technological sovereignty and sustainability in strategic materials processing.
Circular Economy Model to Drive Sustainable Rare Earth Recovery
At the heart of CRITR’s strategy is the development of a closed-loop supply model that reduces environmental impacts associated with conventional mining. The facility will refine end-of-life magnets — including those used in wind turbines and medical imaging equipment — into high-purity rare earth oxides such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium.
These separated materials are critical inputs in the manufacture of permanent magnets used across clean energy and advanced electronics. The facility will use low-impact, modern refining methods to achieve environmental compliance and operational efficiency, drawing on proprietary expertise from Ionic Technologies in the UK.
Joint Venture Seeks to Anchor Brazil’s Role in the Global REE Ecosystem
The CRITR project is positioned as a cornerstone in Brazil’s ambition to become a significant contributor to the global rare earths industry. With a blend of local backing, international collaboration, and alignment with national policy, the project is geared toward enabling sustainable supply chains that serve both domestic manufacturing and international clean energy sectors.
