UK Rare Earth Refinery Project Abandoned as Company Shifts Focus to US Market
A major UK rare earths refinery project has been cancelled after the company behind it reportedly received more attractive investment offers from the United States. The Saltend facility would have reduced Britain’s dependence on Chinese-dominated supply chains for critical minerals.
Strategic UK Rare Earths Project Cancelled
A planned rare earths refinery that would have given the United Kingdom a strategic foothold in the critical minerals sector has been scrapped, with the company instead focusing on development opportunities in the United States, according to reports. The Saltend project, which was announced with much fanfare in 2022 as part of the government’s Critical Minerals Strategy, would have processed minerals used in high-tech applications including electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and robotics.
