Metalysis: The Midstream Pioneer Challenging China's Grip on Critical Minerals

Highlights

• Metalysis uses patented FFC (Fray-Farthing-Chen) technology from Cambridge University to convert metal oxides directly into powders and alloys in a single electrochemical step.
• The platform can process nearly 50 elements, producing tantalum, titanium, scandium, and potentially rare earth metals at tonne-scale commercial quantities.
• China controls roughly 90% of critical mineral refining capacity, making midstream processing the most strategic bottleneck in Western supply chains.
• Metalysis has partnered with the European Space Agency and UK Space Agency to explore processing lunar and Martian regolith for oxygen and metals.
• Rare Earth Exchanges argues the next phase of supply-chain competition will be won in midstream processing, not at the mine.

A new Rare Earth Exchanges™ podcast explores a potential game-changer in metal processing. While headlines focus on new mines and mineral discoveries, the true bottleneck in the critical minerals supply chain lies elsewhere: separating carbonates and other concentrates to oxides, and turning metal oxides into usable metals, alloys, and advanced materials.

In the latest Rare Earth Exchanges Podcast, CEO Daniel O'Connor and host Dustin Olsen welcomed Nitesh Shah (opens in a new tab), CEO of Metalysis, a UK-based technology company that may represent one of the most important yet underappreciated developments in the global critical minerals race.

Nitesh Shah, CEO, Metalysis

Based in Rotherham, England, Metalysis has developed a patented process known as FFC (Fray-Farthing-Chen) technology, originally created at Cambridge University. The technology converts metal oxides directly into metal powders and alloys through a single electrochemical step, potentially eliminating multiple costly and environmentally intensive refining stages. According to Shah, the platform can process nearly 50 elements across the periodic table and produce advanced materials ranging from tantalum powders to titanium alloys, scandium materials, and potentially rare earth metals.

The Midstream Opportunity Few Investors Understand

The discussion highlighted a reality Rare Earth Exchanges has documented extensively: Western nations are investing heavily in mining while remaining dangerously dependent on China for midstream processing.

Today, China controls approximately 90% of critical mineral and rare earth refining capacity. Even projects receiving Western government support frequently rely on Chinese processing somewhere along the value chain.

Metalysis seeks to offer an alternative.

Rather than competing directly with China's scale, Shah argues the value proposition centers on supply-chain resilience, security, cleaner processing, and diversification. The company has already scaled production beyond laboratory demonstrations, operating commercial equipment capable of producing materials in tonne-scale quantities.

From Earth to the Moon

The company's potential extends beyond terrestrial supply chains.

Metalysis has partnered with the European Space Agency and UK Space Agency on projects involving lunar and Martian regolith processing, exploring technologies that could one day produce oxygen, metals, and infrastructure materials directly from extraterrestrial resources.

Why REEx Is Watching

Rare Earth Exchanges believes the next phase of supply-chain competition will not be won at the mine.

It will be won in the midstream. If Metalysis successfully scales its FFC technology into continuous industrial production, it could become one of the few Western companies capable of addressing one of the most strategically important gaps in the critical minerals ecosystem.

For investors seeking exposure to the future of critical mineral processing, Metalysis may be a company worth watching closely.

Watch the full Rare Earth Exchanges Podcast interview with Nitesh Shah, CEO of Metalysis, now available on the Rare Earth Exchanges YouTube channel.