$277M rare earth separation facility coming to Vinton, first in US

VINTON, La. (KLFY) — A multinational company has announced it will invest $277 million to build a rare-earth separation facility in Vinton, the first of its kind in the U.S., according to a news release from Louisiana Economic Development.

Aclara Resources Inc. said in the release that it will construct the first U.S. heavy rare-earth separation facility at the Port of Vinton in Calcasieu Parish.

The company is expected to create 140 direct new jobs at its first U.S. location. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in an additional 456 indirect jobs, for a total of 596 potential new job opportunities in the Southwest Region. 

Rare Earth Elements are a group of 17 metals known for their unique magnetic, optical and conductive properties. These elements are used in modern technologies, from electric vehicles and wind turbines to smartphones and advanced defense systems. 

“By choosing Louisiana for its first U.S. facility, Aclara is recognizing what we already know, our state is leading the next generation of energy and technology innovation,” said Gov. Jeff Landry. “We’re excited to welcome the Aclara team to Louisiana, and we look forward to the jobs, growth and opportunity this project will deliver for our people, our communities — and for a Louisiana economy that’s ready to power and lead our nation’s future.”

The new facility will produce the heavy rare earth elements essential for applications which rely on advanced permanent magnets. By processing material from Aclara’s mineral deposits in Brazil and Chile, the Louisiana operation will create a reliable and sustainable U.S. supply of these materials, according to Aclara Resources CEO Ramón Barúa.

“We are pleased to announce that we have secured a premium site in Louisiana for our U.S. heavy rare earth separation facility,” Barúa said. “From the beginning, our priority was to identify a location that could support rapid development, given the urgent need to establish a reliable supply of these critical minerals.”

Aclara Resources is controlled my majority stockholder Hochschild Mining, which is based in Lima, Peru, and has operations throughout South America.

The company selected the location after evaluating more than 100 potential U.S. sites for its proximity to key chemical suppliers, access to Gulf Coast logistics and availability of a skilled industrial workforce, LED said.

Construction is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed in 2027. The facility will be built in phases, beginning with the rare earth separation plant, followed by potential future expansions to support downstream processing and alloy production as part of Aclara’s long-term growth strategy.

The state of Louisiana offered Aclara Resources an incentive package that includes workforce development by LED FastStart and a $3 million performance-based grant for utility and infrastructure improvements. The company is also expected to participate in the state’s High Impact Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption program.

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