What the Project Is
Geomega Resources Inc. is building the world’s first SUSTAINABLE RARE EARTHS RECYCLING FACILITY to help meet surging global magnet demand as the transition to vehicle electrification and renewable energy sources accelerates. Depending solely on our planet’s natural resources poses both environmental and supply chain risks… By using Geomega’s innovative technology and Quebec’s renewable hydropower, permanent magnets are rescued from landfills and reintroduced into a more self-sustaining supply chain. The project extracts value from various feeds containing rare earths and other critical metals, establishing a solid foundation for a greener future.
Main Benefit
Key figures and facts highlight why this project is a game-changer:
- Magnet demand skyrocketed from a mere 40,000 tonnes at the turn of the 21st century to an expected 300,000 tonnes by 2030.
- Facility capacity is set at 4.5 tonnes per day of magnet waste, built in a brand new industrial complex in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec, Canada.
- Utilizes proprietary iron friendly technology to recover bulk metals (iron and aluminum) from bauxite residues, maximizing volume reduction while recycling main reagents to lower costs and effluents.
- Offers a lower GHG emissions footprint than traditional mining operations, thanks to a gradual scale-up, low capital cost, small footprint, and zero liquid or solid waste.
- Projects include over 82 Mt @ 1.5% TREO & 0.17% Nb2O5 in the Indicated category and over 184 Mt in the Inferred category at the Montviel deposit.
Environmental and Technological Innovation
The facility’s design employs cutting-edge technologies where the proprietary iron friendly method recovers the valuable bulk metals from bauxite residues. This innovative process not only maximizes volume reduction but also recycles the key reagents, reducing both costs and effluents. The treasure trove of critical and strategic metals remaining – such as rare earths, scandium, titanium, and vanadium – creates an ideal feed for Innord’s clean technology. It is a clear demonstration of how modern ingenuity can tackle environmental challenges while addressing supply chain vulnerabilities… separating resource extraction from environmental harm.
Global Scale and Circular Economy
Working with a major international partner to advance the technology to a larger scale provides an opportunity to apply this method on a global platform. The technology is well adapted to process both pre- and post-consumer magnet waste – a crucial point considering that magnet demand from the electric vehicle and wind sectors are the biggest growth drivers. Such a dynamic approach lays the groundwork for a circular economy of rare earths, with the facility being the first of its kind outside of Asia. It is an inspiring leap towards recycling critical metals in a way that keeps environmental impacts in check.
Commitment to Sustainability
At its core, Geomega’s project is committed to more than just recycling. The initiative emphasizes renewable energies, vehicle electrification, automation, and reduced energy usage which all play an integral role in modern performance industries. With patented low acid, lower power technology at the Montviel deposit, and strong support from the Quebec government, local communities, and the Cree First Nation, everything needed for a long-term magnetic REO supply is in place. The project not only underpins a sustainable supply chain but also represents a strong commitment to lowering greenhouse gas emissions by recycling major reagents—an ecological win that resonates in conversations about a greener future.
Broad Technological Applications
Geomega develops innovative technologies for extraction and separation of rare earth elements and other critical metals essential for a sustainable future. As the ISR Technology (Innord’s Separation of Rare Earths) gets scaled up, it supports the recycling of magnet production waste and end-of-life magnets profitably and safely. The approached strategy revolves around de-risking the technology gradually, delivering cashflow, increasing margins, and returning value to shareholders—all while engaging with the main players driving the industries of renewable energies and electrification. With such forward-thinking applications, the technology also has the flexibility to extract value from mining feeds, tailings, and other industrial residues containing critical metals.
Project Impact
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – by leveraging Quebec’s renewable hydropower and reducing reliance on nonrenewable energy sources.
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – through pioneering recycling technology and scaling its application globally.
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – by contributing to cleaner industrial processes with a small footprint and no waste production.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – ensuring rare earths are continuously recycled and supply chains are modernized.
- SDG 13: Climate Action – by reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional mining operations.
Future Opportunities and Ongoing Developments
As technologies are demonstrated on larger scales, Geomega is committed to working with major partners to extend its innovative methods to various feed materials from different industries across the globe. The facility’s gradual scale-up, low capital cost, and emphasis on environmental responsibility signal that the project will not only deliver rare earths with lower GHG emissions but also unlock a C$1.5 billion global market opportunity. There are continual evaluations of other opportunities to apply ISR Technology to other critical metals, ensuring that future developments remain aligned with the needs of a rapidly evolving industrial and technological landscape… The dynamic energy behind these ongoing developments provides a promising outlook toward a self-sustaining and environmentally friendly resource future.
