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France

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About France

France mines no rare earths, but it has a long history of processing them. Solvay's La Rochelle plant is described by the company as able to separate all rare earths, and it has added a production line for the rare earths used in permanent magnets.

Newer capacity is gathering at Lacq in southern France. Carester's subsidiary Caremag has a plant there designed to recycle end-of-life magnets and refine mining concentrates into separated oxides, including dysprosium and terbium. Japan's JOGMEC and Iwatani committed equity and shareholder loans to Caremag and signed a long-term agreement to buy its heavy rare-earth oxides for Japan.

LCM Europe plans a metal and alloy plant for the same site. Near Grenoble, MagREEsource makes new magnets from its own recycled material, and Orano and the CEA run a pilot line for recycling and making magnets.

The open question is feed. With no domestic mine, Caremag's concentrates must come from abroad, and part of its heavy rare-earth output is contracted to Japan. How much reaches European magnet makers depends on supply deals signed outside France.

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Rare Earth Elements

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