Energy Fuels and Chemours Forming Strategic Alliance to Create a Domestic Supply Chain of Critical Minerals for the United States

Rhea-AI Summary

Energy Fuels (NYSE: UUUU) and Chemours (NYSE: CC) announced a strategic alliance to strengthen U.S. domestic rare earth and critical mineral supply chains. The partnership leverages Energy Fuels' development of heavy mineral sands projects in Madagascar, Brazil, and Australia, alongside Chemours' existing mining operations in Florida and Georgia.

Energy Fuels, a leading U.S. rare earth elements producer, operates the White Mesa Mill in Utah - the only fully licensed conventional uranium processing facility in the United States. The company produces rare earth elements, vanadium oxide, and is exploring medical isotope recovery potential.

The alliance aims to capitalize on complementary geographic and operational synergies between both companies to address America's critical mineral supply chain challenges, particularly in rare earth elements, titanium, and zirconium production.

Positive

• Strategic alliance strengthens domestic critical minerals supply chain
• Geographic expansion through international mining projects in Madagascar, Brazil, and Australia
• Complementary operational synergies between both companies
• Access to Chemours' established mining operations in Florida and Georgia

Negative

• Project developments and alliance implementation subject to various risks and uncertainties
• Success dependent on future commodity prices and market demand
• Potential regulatory and permitting challenges for new projects

Insights

Financial Analyst

This strategic alliance between Energy Fuels and Chemours represents a significant development in the U.S. critical minerals sector with positive implications for UUUU shareholders. The partnership leverages complementary capabilities – Energy Fuels' expertise in rare earth elements and international heavy mineral sands projects combining with Chemours' established mining operations in Florida and Georgia.

What makes this particularly valuable is the alignment with U.S. national security priorities. As governments worldwide intensify efforts to secure supply chains for strategic materials, companies positioned in domestic critical mineral production stand to benefit from potential policy support, funding opportunities, and increasing demand. The explicit political endorsements from multiple lawmakers, including Senator Lee and Representative Cammack, underscore the strategic importance of this alliance.

For Energy Fuels specifically, this arrangement builds upon an existing four-year collaboration, suggesting lower integration risk than typical new partnerships. The company gains potential operational synergies while maintaining its position as a leading U.S. producer of rare earth elements. By creating a more robust domestic supply chain for materials essential to defense, energy, and advanced manufacturing, Energy Fuels strengthens its market position in a sector with strong tailwinds.

While the announcement lacks specific financial projections or production targets, the strategic positioning in the increasingly critical rare earths and mineral sands markets represents meaningful long-term value creation potential for a company of Energy Fuels' size ($706 million market cap).

Mining Industry Specialist

This alliance addresses one of the mining industry's most pressing challenges: creating viable domestic supply chains for critical minerals in Western markets. The rare earths sector in particular has long been dominated by Chinese producers, with approximately 80% of global production controlled by China. By combining Energy Fuels' processing capabilities and international project portfolio with Chemours' established mining operations, this partnership creates one of the more credible attempts at building a resilient U.S.-based supply chain.

The complementary nature of their assets is compelling. Energy Fuels brings its White Mesa Mill – the only fully licensed conventional uranium processing facility in the U.S. – which has been adapted for rare earth processing. Their development of heavy mineral sands projects across three continents (Madagascar, Brazil, and Australia) provides access to raw materials, while Chemours contributes established mining operations and separation expertise from its Florida and Georgia facilities.

From a technical perspective, creating a complete mine-to-market rare earths supply chain is extraordinarily complex, requiring specialized expertise in mining, separation, processing, and metallurgy. The fact these companies have already collaborated successfully for four years suggests they've navigated some of these technical challenges. The expanded alliance leverages these proven working relationships while potentially accelerating development timelines for Energy Fuels' international projects.

The timing coincides with increasing industrial and defense applications for these materials, particularly in permanent magnets, electronics, and aerospace components. This positions both companies to potentially capture growing market share in a strategically vital sector.

DENVER, March 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) and The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC) today announced they are forming a strategic alliance to expand the companies' existing relationship to enhance U.S. domestic rare earth and critical mineral supply chains to meet increasing demand.

The alliance will capitalize on the complementary geographic and operational synergies of both organizations. Energy Fuels, a leading U.S. producer of rare earth elements, is currently developing new heavy mineral sands projects in Madagascar, Brazil, and Australia, expected to produce world-scale quantities of rare earth, titanium ilmenite and zircon minerals in the coming years. Chemours mines and separates heavy mineral sands from its mines in Florida and Georgia.

"Energy Fuels and Chemours each have unique, complementary capabilities, which can be deployed to solve many of America's critical mineral supply chain challenges in rare earth elements, titanium and zirconium. Energy Fuels and Chemours have collaborated successfully over the past four years, and we look forward to expanding our relationship in this key area," said Mark Chalmers, President and CEO of Energy Fuels.

"Chemours is proud to play a role in strengthening U.S. critical and rare earth mineral supply. This is a transformative time in our industry, and we are fortunate to have found a likeminded U.S. partner in Energy Fuels for this important work," said Damián Gumpel, President of Chemours Titanium Technologies.

Rich Nolan, President and CEO of the National Mining Association applauded the news saying, "Today's announcement is a prime example of the mining industry's desire to help drive the reshoring of our mineral supply chains and ramp up domestic production to meet the massive mineral demands of modern society. Secure supply chains begin at home—where we do things in accordance with the world's highest environmental, labor and safety standards."

Chairman Mike Lee (R-UT) shared, "America's economic and national security depends on a strong, domestic supply chain for critical minerals. This agreement is a major step toward securing that supply, ensuring that rare earth elements, titanium, and zirconium are sourced and processed here at home. By combining their strengths, these two companies are reinforcing America's industrial base and reducing our reliance on foreign adversaries for materials essential to energy, defense, and advanced manufacturing."

"The United States cannot rely on our adversaries for the natural resources essential to our economy and national security. We should be leading the way in producing critical minerals—after all, we do it better and cleaner than anywhere else," said Senator John Curtis (R-UT). "I applaud Energy Fuels and Chemours on their strategic alliance to strengthen America's domestic critical mineral supply chain. This partnership will directly support the White Mesa Mill in Utah—strengthening our economy and reinforcing Utah's role in national security."

"For the United States to remain competitive, it's important to bolster domestic supply chains of critical minerals, as well as onshoring minerals from around the globe to be processed and utilized here," said Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL). "I'm grateful to Chemours and their partners for working together to continue developing the most advanced critical mineral supply in the U.S."

About Energy Fuels

Energy Fuels is a leading US-based critical minerals company, focused on uranium, rare earth elements, heavy mineral sands, vanadium and medical isotopes. Energy Fuels, which owns and operates several conventional and in-situ recovery uranium projects in the western United States, has been the leading U.S. producer of natural uranium concentrate for the past several years, which is sold to nuclear utilities that process it further for the production of carbon-free nuclear energy. Energy Fuels also owns the White Mesa Mill in Utah, which is the only fully licensed and operating conventional uranium processing facility in the United States. At the Mill, Energy Fuels also produces advanced rare earth element products, vanadium oxide (when market conditions warrant), and is evaluating the potential recovery of certain medical isotopes from existing uranium process streams needed for emerging Targeted Alpha Therapy cancer treatments. Energy Fuels is also developing three (3) additional heavy mineral sands projects: the Toliara Project in Madagascar; the Bahia Project in Brazil; and the Donald Project in Australia in which Energy Fuels has the right to earn up to a 49% interest in a joint venture with Astron Corporation Limited. Energy Fuels is based in Lakewood, Colorado, near Denver, with its heavy mineral sands operations managed from Perth, Australia. The primary trading market for Energy Fuels' common shares is the NYSE American under the trading symbol "UUUU," and its common shares are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "EFR." For more information on all Energy Fuels does, please visit http://www.energyfuels.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain "Forward Looking Information" and "Forward Looking Statements" within the meaning of applicable United States and Canadian securities legislation, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: any expectation that the strategic alliance will be successfully formed and will be successful in expanding the companies' existing relationship to enhance U.S. domestic rare earth and critical mineral supply chains to meet increasing demand; any expectation that the alliance will capitalize on the complementary geographic and operational synergies of both organizations; any expectation that Energy Fuels' and Chemours' unique, complementary capabilities can be deployed to solve many of America' critical mineral supply chain challenges in rare earth elements, titanium and zirconium; any expectation that demand for both rare earth elements and critical minerals will increase in the future; and any expectations as to future production. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects," "does not expect," "is expected," "is likely," "budgets," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates," "does not anticipate," or "believes," or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will be taken," "occur," "be achieved" or "have the potential to." All statements, other than statements of historical fact herein are considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements express or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with: commodity prices and price fluctuations; engineering, construction, processing and mining difficulties, upsets and delays; permitting and licensing requirements and delays; changes to regulatory requirements; legal challenges; competition from other producers; government and political actions or inactions; market factors, including future demand for rare earth elements, titanium and zirconium; and the other factors described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available for review on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and on the Company's website at www.energyfuels.com. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release, and Energy Fuels disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Energy Fuels assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as otherwise required by law.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/energy-fuels-and-chemours-forming-strategic-alliance-to-create-a-domestic-supply-chain-of-critical-minerals-for-the-united-states-302403888.html

SOURCE Energy Fuels Inc.

FAQ

What is the purpose of Energy Fuels (UUUU) and Chemours' strategic alliance?

The alliance aims to enhance U.S. domestic rare earth and critical mineral supply chains by combining Energy Fuels' international mining projects with Chemours' domestic operations in Florida and Georgia.

Where are Energy Fuels' (UUUU) new heavy mineral sands projects located?

Energy Fuels is developing heavy mineral sands projects in Madagascar, Brazil, and Australia to produce rare earth, titanium ilmenite, and zircon minerals.

What products does Energy Fuels (UUUU) currently produce at its White Mesa Mill?

The White Mesa Mill produces advanced rare earth element products, vanadium oxide, and is evaluating medical isotope recovery for cancer treatments.

How will the Energy Fuels (UUUU) strategic alliance impact U.S. critical mineral supply?

The alliance will reduce U.S. reliance on foreign sources by establishing domestic production and processing of rare earth elements, titanium, and zirconium.