Solvay and Viridis plan a rare earth supply partnership, strengthening diversified sourcing, processing capacity, and sustainable critical material availability.
Solvay has announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Viridis Mining and Minerals aimed at establishing a long-term supply arrangement for rare earth materials by 2028. The agreement represents a significant step toward strengthening and diversifying global supply chains for critical raw materials that are increasingly essential for advanced technologies and the energy transition. Following the signing of the LOI, both companies will work toward negotiating and finalizing a definitive sourcing agreement that will formalize the partnership.
Under the proposed arrangement, Viridis will supply rare earth feedstocks sourced from its operations in Brazil to Solvay’s rare earth processing facility in La Rochelle, France. The collaboration combines Viridis’ access to strategic mineral resources with Solvay’s extensive expertise in rare earth processing and separation technologies. Solvay is expected to contribute its advanced technical capabilities to support and accelerate the development of feedstock supplies from Brazil, creating a more secure and diversified source of rare earth materials for global markets.
The partnership is designed to capitalize on Solvay’s specialized refining, separation, and formulation expertise. Through its advanced processing technologies, the company will transform raw rare earth materials into individual high-purity rare earth oxides. These refined materials play a critical role in the production of permanent magnets and are indispensable components in electric vehicle motors, renewable energy technologies, sophisticated electronics, and defense-related applications.
The feedstock expected to be supplied by Viridis contains several of the most strategically important rare earth elements used in permanent magnet production. These include neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), dysprosium (Dy), and terbium (Tb), all of which are experiencing growing demand due to the rapid expansion of electric mobility and clean energy industries worldwide. In addition to these magnet-related elements, the material also contains substantial quantities of heavy rare earths such as samarium (Sm), gadolinium (Gd), and yttrium (Y). These elements are widely utilized across a range of high-technology sectors, including automotive manufacturing, consumer electronics, medical equipment, aerospace systems, and other advanced industrial applications.
According to An Nuyttens, President of Solvay’s Special Chem business, the planned partnership would represent an important milestone in enhancing the company’s upstream supply network. He emphasized that securing an additional and dependable source of raw materials would help Solvay optimize the utilization of its processing facilities while addressing rising global demand for sustainably produced, high-purity rare earth products. Nuyttens also highlighted Solvay’s plans to achieve industrial-scale separation of dysprosium and terbium at its La Rochelle facility by September 2026. The company remains committed to its strategic objective of supplying approximately 30 percent of Europe’s demand for magnet-grade light and heavy rare earth materials by 2030.
Rafael Moreno, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Viridis Mining and Minerals, stated that the collaboration would connect Viridis’ growing resource base with one of the world’s most advanced rare earth processing platforms. He noted that the partnership would contribute to the development of a more diversified, sustainable, and responsible supply chain for critical minerals, supporting industries facing rapidly increasing demand for these strategic materials.
Solvay’s La Rochelle facility occupies a unique position within the global rare earth industry. It is one of the largest rare earth separation plants operating outside China and among the few facilities worldwide capable of processing the entire spectrum of rare earth elements on an industrial scale. The proposed partnership with Viridis aligns with Solvay’s broader strategy to expand its production capabilities, strengthen supply security, and support the creation of a more resilient and geographically diversified rare earth value chain for Europe and global markets.
