Solvay Launches Rare Earths Production Line in France, Advancing EU Strategic Autonomy

Highlights

• Solvay inaugurates a major rare earths production facility in La Rochelle, France.
• Becomes the largest rare earth separation facility outside China.
• Aims to meet 30% of European rare earth demand by 2030.
• Supports EU initiatives like the Clean Industrial Deal.
• Strategic facility will supply critical materials for:
  • Electric vehicles
  • Wind turbines
  • Electronics
  • Defense systems

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On April 8, 2025, Solvay (opens in a new tab) officially inaugurated a major rare earths production line at its La Rochelle facility in France, marking the beginning of commercial output for rare earth elements used in permanent magnets. The opening, attended by Pensana (opens in a new tab) Chief Commercial Officer William Izod (opens in a new tab) and hosted by senior Solvay leadership, represents a critical milestone in Europe’s bid for industrial sovereignty under the Critical Raw Materials Act.

The La Rochelle plant, already the largest rare earth separation facility outside China, will now supply key materials for electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, electronics, and defense systems.

This development positions Solvay as a central player in reshoring and securing Europe’s rare earth supply chain. With a stated goal to meet 30% of European demand by 2030, Solvay is sourcing feedstock from a diverse network of mining and recycling partners to reduce strategic dependencies. The move directly supports EU initiatives such as the Clean Industrial Deal, aiming to foster sustainable and resilient supply chains amid intensifying global competition for critical minerals.

Solvay CEO Philippe Kehren called for deeper collaboration across government, industry, and innovation sectors to accelerate the creation of a fully integrated European rare earth value chain. Pensana’s William Izod emphasized the La Rochelle facility as a foundational step toward building an independent downstream ecosystem for magnet metals. Both executives underscored the importance of strategic partnerships to reinforce Europe’s technological competitiveness and energy transition goals.