MTM Critical Metals locks in pre-permitted site in major boost for Flash Joule Heating demo plant

The 5ha industrial site will host MTM’s first US Flash Joule Heating metal recovery plant based in Chambers County, Texas.

A Texas site has been secured under a long-term lease agreement, which includes a structured purchase option exercisable at MTM’s discretion. Pic: Getty Images

• MTM Critical Metals locks in 5ha pre-permitted site

• The location will host MTM’s first US Flash Joule Heating metal recovery plant

• MTM planning to commission FJH demonstration plant by year-end 2025

Special report: MTM has chosen an industrial-ready location to host its first US Flash Joule Heating (FJH) recovery plant, serving as the base for future commercial operations and R&D activities.

The site sits within one of Texas’ most established heavy industrial corridors and is surrounded by legacy waste processing operations.

With close access to Interstate 10 and the Houston Ship Channel, the site benefits from efficient connectivity to international logistics, key suppliers and end-use markets.

The property is pre-permitted for industrial waste handling and processing and includes extensive existing infrastructure such as sealed access roads, onsite power, wastewater management, security fencing and office/warehouse facilities.

This means MTM Critical Metals (ASX:MTM) can begin operations without lengthy environmental approvals and minimal construction delay.

The company remains on track to commission the FJH demonstration plant by year-end 2025, enabling a rapid transition to commercial production shortly thereafter.

Reliable source of material

MTM has already secured long-term feedstock arranged for 1100 metric tonnes per year of e-waste form two US recycling partners and is in advanced discussions with Indium Corporation to source ultra-high-grade gallium and germanium-rich material.

These feedstock supply agreements ensure that the FJH plant will have a reliable source of material to process from the outset of operations.

Additionally, they support MTM’s broader strategy to onshore metal processing capabilities in the United States and to reinforce domestic supply chains for critical materials.

As of April, China has restricted exports of several key heavy rare earth elements such as dysprosium, terbium, gadolinium, samarium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium –materials vital to both clean energy systems and advanced defence technologies like the F-35, nuclear submarines, and Tomahawk missiles, as well as medical devices like MRI machines.

A significant gap exists in the US for large-scale separation of heavy rare earth elements (REEs), with domestic production covering only a fraction of demand and most of it (72%) procured from China.

China dominates both the production and processing of REEs, producing about 70% of the world’s mined rare earths and holding an even more substantial lead in refining, processing roughly 85% of global supply.

That’s where MTM comes in – its wholly owned subsidiary Flash Metals USA Inc holds the global exclusive license for Flash Joule Heating (FJH) — an electrothermal processing platform originally developed at Rice University in Houston.

Unlike a traditional sulphuric acid-based flowsheet, which is energy-intensive, hazardous, and slow, FJH technology rapidly heats feedstock to over 3000 degrees Kelvin in seconds using pulsed direct current and chlorine gas.

Watch: MTM seals another recycling deal

‘Major milestone’

MTM managing director and CEO Michael Walshe said the company is pleased to have secured this site.

“It’s a major milestone that marks a critical inflection point in our US commercialisation strategy,” he said.

“The location aligns perfectly with our goal to rapidly deploy Flash Joule Heating technology and establish a low-emissions, tariff-exempt, cost-efficient hub for critical metals processing.

“The site’s pre-permitted status and existing infrastructure mean we can move quickly, stay capital-efficient, and maintain our commissioning schedule, laying the foundation for significant scale-up and near-term production.”

On the horizon

Walshe visited the site last week with MTM US president Steve Ragiel and met with the Chambers County Commissioner and the local Economic Development Corporation, both of whom have been highly supportive of the company’s plans.

The secured site will serve as the anchor for MTM’s US Technology Campus, accommodating the 1t per day demonstration plant and a dedicated R&D facility.

The property’s substantial size and pre-approved permits make it ideal for modular expansion to commercial-scale operations in the future, ensuring MTM can scale up production capacity on the same site as demand grows.

MTM expects to finalise the lease and commence on-site works in Q3 2025.

Initial activities will focus on adapting the site for technology deployment and ensuring regulatory compliance.

This article was developed in collaboration with MTM Critical Metals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

Originally published as MTM Critical Metals locks in pre-permitted site in major boost for Flash Joule Heating demo plant