ReElement Technologies, a subsidiary of American Resources, has announced a partnership with Johannesburg-based investment firm Novare to develop Africa’s first $100-million (C$70-million) critical and rare earth elements refinery.
Under the agreement, ReElement will contribute its proprietary technology for producing high-purity lithium carbonate, rare earth oxides, and other critical minerals. It will also provide project management expertise. Meanwhile, Novare will fund the project and manage the operation, with development expected to begin in the second half of this year.
The refinery aims to produce high-purity elements for advanced technologies used in both commercial and defense sectors. This project marks a significant step toward enhancing Africa’s capabilities in critical mineral refining, potentially stimulating economic development across the continent.
Ben Kincaid, CEO of ReElement Technologies’ African unit, emphasized the partnership’s role in driving industrial growth by leveraging innovative refining technologies. Novare Group CEO Ola Leepile highlighted that this venture aligns with their goal of establishing Sub-Saharan Africa’s first battery and critical minerals manufacturing facility.
ReElement has developed a chromatographic, multi-mineral, multi-feedstock technology that can efficiently separate, purify, and refine rare earth and critical elements, providing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution.
