Ionic Rare Earths (IonicRE) has submitted a planning application for a commercial magnet recycling facility in Belfast, UK, as it works to complete project funding.
The application for the proposed plant at Queen’s Island was submitted to Belfast City Council on 19 September 2026 and validated on 24 September.
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Ionic Technologies, IonicRE’s wholly owned UK subsidiary, has also signed a Planning Performance Agreement with the council, with a determination expected in the first quarter of 2027 (Q1 2027).
IonicRE said it had made significant progress in defining a funding package for the facility, with extensive due diligence programmes completed.
The package is intended to secure the full $15.8m (£12m) capital grant offer in principle made by the Department for Business and Trade and Advanced Propulsion Centre UK through the Automotive Transformation Fund.
The company is also progressing agreements for the Queen’s Island site, utility arrangements and contractor selection for building, mechanical and electrical work.
It expects to award pre-final investment decision packages in Q4 2026, subject to completion of the funding arrangements.
Tenova Advanced Technologies is conducting front-end engineering design for the proposed plant.
Work during the quarter included selecting vendors for key plant items.
Basic engineering is expected to conclude in Q2 2027, with construction activities scheduled to start in Q3 2027.
IonicRE managing director Tim Harrison said: “The company has made material progress over the past two months to de-risk and de-bottleneck a pivotal period for our company.
“Submitting the full planning application and completion of due diligence activities now rolls into finalising a funding package for Belfast.
“Once we have secured a comprehensive funding package for Belfast, we plan to swiftly award pre-final investment decision (FID) contracts to initiate key work streams and place orders for long-lead items.”
Ionic Technologies has completed a £600,000 upgrade at its Belfast demonstration plant.
The work included replacement reaction vessels, process-control changes, ventilation improvements and an expanded heavy rare earth mixer-settler circuit.
The upgraded separation circuit is designed to process approximately two tonnes per annum (tpa) of separated dysprosium and terbium.
Ionic Technologies has accumulated around 4t of mixed rare earth oxide (REO) while the solvent extraction upgrades were completed and is planning processing campaigns in Q4 2026.
Separately, IonicRE’s US subsidiary signed a non-binding term sheet with US Strategic Metals for a proposed 50:50 joint venture to develop magnet recycling facilities in Missouri, US.
The proposal remains subject to definitive agreements, funding contributions and other conditions.
IonicRE also continues a strategic review of its 60%-owned Makuutu heavy rare earths project in Uganda.
Makuutu’s mineral resource totals 617 million tonnes (mt) at 630 parts per million (ppm) total REO, reported above a 200ppm total REO-cerium oxide cut-off. The resource comprises 517mt of indicated material and 99mt of inferred material.
In May 2026, IonicRE signed a joint development and licensing agreement with Nth Cycle to enhance the refining of rare earth elements in the US and globally.
