Aclara Receives Support from the U.s. Department of Commerce
ACLARA RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
TORONTO, ON, November 13, 2024 – Aclara Resources Inc. (“Aclara” or the “Company”) (TSX: ARA) is
pleased to announce that it is working with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade
Administration, through its SelectUSA program, to conduct a study aimed at identifying the optimal site for
Aclara’s planned separation facility in the United States (the “Location Study”).
The SelectUSA program fosters business investment that supports economic development and job creation
in the United States. To date, SelectUSA has facilitated over $250 billion in investments, creating or retaining
more than 230,000 jobs across the country.
Location Study overview
The objective of the Location Study is to identify an optimal site for Aclara’s Separation facility, with a focus
on maximizing operational efficiency and minimizing both costs and project execution timeline. Key criteria
under consideration include s: (i) financial and investment incentives; (ii) permitting and regulatory
environment; (iii) commercial and fiscal landscape; (iv) industrial site readiness; (v) infrastructure and
services; (vi) supply of key materials required for the process; (vii) climate suitability; (viii) qualified
workforce; among others.
Aclara’s Chief Financial Officer, François Motte, commented:
“We are very pleased to receive the support from the U.S. Government to find the location of our rare earth
separation facility in the U nited States. Aclara believes that it can contribute towards securing a resilient and
independent supply chain for rare earths, which are critical materials for electromobility and other key high-tech
sectors of the U.S. economy.”
For further details regarding the proposed separation facility, refer to the press release “Aclara Announces
Update on its Rare Earths Separation Project”, dated October 15, 2024.
About Acara
Aclara Resources Inc. (TSX: ARA) is a development-stage company that focuses on heavy rare earth mineral
resources hosted in Ion-Adsorption Clay deposits. The Company’s rare earth mineral resource development
projects include the Penco Module in the Bio-Bio Region of Chile and the Carina Module in the State of Goiás,
Brazil.
Aclara's rare earth extraction process offers several environmentally attractive features. Circular mineral
harvesting does not involve blasting, crushing, or milling, and therefore does not generate tailings and
eliminates the need for a tailing’s storage facility. The extraction process developed by Aclara minimizes
water consumption through high levels of water recirculation made possible by the inclusion of a water
treatment facility within its patented process design. The ionic clay feedstock is amenab le to leaching with
a common fertilizer main reagent, ammonium sulfate. In addition to the development of the Penco Module
and the Carina Module, the Company will continue to identify and evaluate opportunities to increase future
production of heavy rare earths through greenfield exploration programs and the development of additional
projects within the Company's current concessions in Brazil, Chile, and Peru.
Aclara has decided to vertically integrate its rare earths concentrate production towards the manufacturing
of rare earths alloys. The Company has established a U.S.-based subsidiary, Aclara Technologies Inc., which
will focus on developing technologies for rare earth separation, metals and alloys. Additionally, the Company
is advancing its metals and alloys business through a joint venture with CAP S.A., leveraging CAP’s extensive
expertise in metal refining and special ferro-alloyed steels.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward -looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities
legislation, which reflects the Company’s current expectations regarding future events, including statements
with regard to the Company’s corporate strategy; expectations as to activities conducted in connection with its
separation project, operational efficiency, costs and project execution timeline , effect or outcomes resulting
therefrom; the development of a separation facility and the related studies in relation thereto; the Company’s
vertical integration strategy; and plans as to expenditures, investments, and use of capital and financial
resources in the near and long term. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Such risks
and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s
annual information form dated as of March 22, 2024, filed on the Company’s SEDAR profile. Actual results and
timing could differ materially from those projected herein. Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise
indicates, the forward-looking information contained in this news release is provided as of the date of this news
release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update s uch forward -looking information,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under
applicable securities laws.
For further information, please contact:
Ramón Barúa Costa
Chief Executive Officer