Técnicas Reunidas S.A. (TR; Madrid, Spain) has successfully produced its first kilograms of neodymium/praseodymium (Nd/Pr) oxide meeting commercial purity and specifications, thus marking a significant technological advance in the strategic rare earths market. Nd/Pr oxide is a critical component in high demand for the manufacture of permanent magnets, which are essential components in electric vehicle motors and wind turbines, meaning a fundamental contribution to decarbonization goals.
This significant breakthrough by Técnicas Reunidas has been made through the application of its patented RARETECH® technology, a comprehensive in-house solution designed to revolutionize the separation and purification of these most valuable elements. The production of neodymium/praseodymium (Nd/Pr) oxide was achieved at the pilot plant operated by Técnicas Reunidas at its Technology Center in Madrid.
By successfully producing this component with commercial purity and specifications, Técnicas Reunidas has not only proved the technical viability of its technology but also provided a tangible solution to the European Union’s roadmap for autonomy in the supply of critical raw materials essential for decarbonization. Indeed, this breakthrough was achieved within the framework of the European Union’s PERmanent MAgnet Network for the European Transition (PERMANET) project, led by Técnicas Reunidas, whose objective is to develop a EU value chain for permanent magnets, a key factor in the energy and digital transition. This new success in the application of RARETECH® comes on the heels of Técnicas Reunidas’ recent signing of two major engineering and services contracts that incorporate the use of this proprietary technology into the execution of rare earths mining projects being developed by the Australian companies Osmond Resources in Jaén (Spain) and St George Mining in Araxá (Brazil).
Javier Limpo, Corporate Director of the Proprietary Technology Development Division at Técnicas Reunidas, stated that “these advances significantly reinforce our strategic commitment to the sustainable mining and rare earths sector with technologies that contribute to global decarbonization, as well as its position as a leading engineering and technology partner for scaling these processes to an industrial level.”
PERmanent MAgnet Network for the European Transition (PERMANET) is an initiative funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe program that aims to ensure a resilient and sustainable European value chain for permanent magnets, a key factor in technological sovereignty and in the European Union's energy and digital transition.
The PERMANET project will enable the creation of the first complete European value chain for the production of permanent magnets, including the extraction, processing, and refining of rare earths, as well as the manufacture of magnets. This project, led by Técnicas Reunidas, involves 34 leading European partners (17 large companies, 7 SMEs, 4 research centers, 2 universities, and 4 clusters) from 11 different countries.