Hypromag and Mkango Rare Earths Secure UK Government Grant Funding
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MKANGO RESOURCES LTD.
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HYPROMAG AND MKANGO RARE EARTHS SECURE UK GOVERNMENT GRANT FUNDING
Highlights
• HyProMag Ltd (“HyProMag”) and Mkango Rare Earths UK Ltd (“Mkango UK”) have been awarded
grants totalling £218,932 by Innovate UK to advance their medium-loop (via remelting) and long-loop
(via chemical processing) rare earth magnet recycling routes - both underpinned by the patented
Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap (“HPMS”) technology developed at the University of
Birmingham for demagnetising and liberating end -of-life (“EoL”) rare earth magnets from scrap
streams. HyProMag is the exclusive licencee of the HPMS process.
• These recycling routes are complementary to the short -loop rare earth magnet recycling and
manufacturing being commercialised by HyProMag in the UK, Germany and the United States, and
provide additional flexibility to maximise value and minimise the carbon footprint for a broader variety
of NdFeB feeds including EoL sources and pre-production swarf.
• In the REEmelt Project, HyProMag will collaborate with Less Common Metals (“LCM”), ADEY
Innovation Ltd (“ADEY”) and the University of Birmingham (“UoB”) to liberate EoL rare earth magnets
via HPMS , followed by remelting, strip casting and remanufacture into a new sintered rare earth
magnet for demonstration in an ADEY magnetic filter.
• In the Sustainable Alternative to Hydrometallurgical Processes (“SAHP”) Project, Mkango UK will
collaborate with Imperial College spin-out, Nanomox Ltd (“Nanomox”), to validate its novel Oxidative
Ionothermal Synthesis (“OIS®”) process at pilot scale, which provides an opportunity to lower the
environmental impact and cost of long -loop chemical processing, leveraging off the existing pilot
facilities already developed by Mkango UK at Tyseley Energy Park in Birmingham.
London / Vancouver: October 3, 2024 – Mkango Resources Ltd. (AIM/TSX-V: MKA) (the “Company” or
“Mkango”) is pleased to announce that HyProMag and Mkango UK have been awarded grants totalling £218,932
as part of the CLIMATES (Circular critical materials supply chains) programme, a £15 million investment delivered
by Innovate UK, which aims to strengthen the UK’s supply chain resilience within critical minerals. Both
HyProMag and Mkango UK are 100% owned subsidiaries of Maginito Limited (“Maginito”), which is 79.4% owned
by Mkango and 20.6% owned by CoTec Holdings (“CoTec”).
Mike Biddle, Exec Director for Net Zero at Innovate UK, stated: “An electric vehicle and many green technologies
not only requires Cobalt, Lithium and Graphite for the battery but also Rare Earth Elements for the high -
performance permanent magnets used in the electric motors. The innovative partnerships we are funding w ill
explore novel ways to support our supply of these Rare Earth Elements in the UK and have enormous potential.
Backing from Innovate UK will accelerate their work towards commercialisation.”
REEmelt
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REEmelt is a £589,852 project focused on medium -loop rare earth magnet recycling (via remelting) to produce
NdFeB strip cast alloys for remanufacture back into sintered rare earth magnets for demonstration in an ADEY
magnetic filter. ADEY developed the world’s first magnetic filter device (The MagnaClean®) and these are
installed on over 10 million central heating systems worldwide.
Recycled NdFeB liberated from scrap streams via the HPMS process will be remelted and strip cast by LCM at its
commercial operations in Ellesmere Port, UK, to provide a feed for magnet making. The remelting process has
the effect of reducing impurities and enhanc ing the chemical composition , also allowing the opportunity for
additional blending. LCM has the equipment, technology and expertise for remelting and alloy manufacture, with
HyProMag and the University of Birmingham focused on HPMS and magnet manufacture, and ADEY focused on
product demonstration. Medium-loop recycling via remelting is complementary to short -loop and long -loop
recycling also being developed by UoB, HyProMag and Mkango UK , and progressing this additional capability
gives even more flexibility to process different scrap streams and provide tailored recycling solutions with
potential for greater recycling and recovery rates across all applications.
Nick Mann, Managing Director of HyProMag stated: “We are very pleased to be working with market leaders in
their respective fields, enhancing opportunities to add value and build relationships ahead of our targeted UK
commercialisation early next year. This project significantly enhances our opportunities to process different scrap
feed and to broaden the range of potential products.”
Aaron Riley, General Manager of Less Common Metals stated: “We are excited to support an additional UK
project focussed on advancing the circular economy and building an alternative route for rare earth magnets. As
part of the Innovate UK-funded REEmelt project, LCM will collaborate with HyProMag Ltd, ADEY Innovation Ltd,
and the University of Birmingham to recycle and remanufacture rare earth magnets from end-of-life sources. By
utilising Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap (HPMS) technology, developed at the University of Birmingham
and exclusively licenced to HyProMag, rare earth magnets will be liberated from scrap, remelted, and strip cast
at our site in Ellesmere Port in the Northwest of England.
This innovative process reduces impurities and enhances the chemical composition of rare earth elements,
allowing for tailored recycling solutions. Collaboration is key and partnerships will enhance supply chain
opportunities, minimize carbon footprint, an d maximize value from different scrap streams. LCM looks forward
to fostering key relationships through this project, which complements existing short and long -loop recycling
efforts and supports the UK’s push toward greater supply chain resilience in critical materials.”
Helen Isherwood, Managing Director of ADEY Innovation Ltd stated: “We have been working with Hy ProMag
and Birmingham University for some time and have been very impressed by their tenacity and commitment to
resolving the challenge of recycling rare earth magnets. We are delighted that they have secured additional
funding to further progress a project that has the potential to provide a very practical solution to addressing
carbon net zero and supply chain challenges.”
Prof David Brown , Industrial Professor of Magnetic Materials at the University of Birmingham stated: “The
University of Birmingham’s Magnetics Materials Group has been at the forefront of materials development,
manufacturing technologies and characterisation for over 50 years. Our experienced team and bespoke suite of
equipment and processing capabilities are ready to add value and deliver the goals of the REEMelt project. In
particular, the Group operates specialised pilot-scale furnaces for alloying, strip-casting and jet-casting kilogram-
scale batches of complex alloys. The ability to control the cast st ructure of rare earth based permanent magnet
materials is absolutely critical to their ultimate performance.”
SAHP – OIS(R) as a Sustainable Alternative to Hydrometallurgical Processes
This is a £ 249,682 project focused on long -loop rare earth magnet recycling (via a chemical route) to process
NdFeB feeds from EoL sources and pre -production swarf to produce rare earth oxides and carbonates. The
project will test Nanomox’s OIS® process at pilot scale, via integration with Mkango UK’s existing long-loop pilot
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facilities at Tyseley Energy Park in Birmingham, and will enable completion of feasibility studies to fully evaluate
the process.
Nanomox has developed a novel and highly innovative synthetic manufacturing process, termed OIS®, which can
process polymetallic materials to selectively extract and recover target metals allowing for more efficient
recycling and processing of industrial waste streams. OIS ® uses green catalytic solvents (ionic liquids) which
facilitate processing in the absence of volatile and hazardous chemicals. These ionic liquids can be recycled,
lowering process waste and associated processing costs.
Following the commissioning of its long-loop pilot plant in July 2024, Mkango UK has been progressing process
optimisation activities, scoping studies, and evaluation of bolt -on technology enhancements , which will now
include OIS®, enabling the evaluation of different options for long-loop recycling on a commercial basis.
Nielson Beddoe, Process Engineering Manager of Mkango UK stated: “We are very excited to be working with
Nanomox – this project is fully aligned with our strategy to evaluate new technologies for integration with our
long-loop process, enhancing options for commercial development whilst developing opportunities for lowering
the carbon footprint, environmental impact and operating costs.”
Francisco Malaret, CEO and Co-founder at Nanomox, stated: “I am thrilled to collaborate with experts in the REE
space to expand the capabilities of our OIS® process to critical minerals essential for advancing green
technologies. I believe ionic liquids will play a pivotal role in enabling sustainable REE processing. On behalf of the
Nanomox team, I’d like to thank our commercial partners and the funding agency for this opportunity to explore
new avenues for innovation.”
About Mkango Resources Ltd.
Mkango is listed on the AIM and the TSX -V. Mkango’s corporate strategy is to become a market leader in the
production of recycled rare earth magnets, alloys and oxides, through its interest in Maginito, which is owned
79.4 per cent by Mkango and 20.6 per cent by CoTec, and to develop new sustainable sources of neodymium,
praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium to supply accelerating demand from electric vehicles, wind turbines
and other clean energy technologies.
Maginito holds a 100 per cent interest in HyProMag and a 90 per cent direct and indirect interest (assuming
conversion of Maginito’s convertible loan) in HyProMag GmbH, focused on short loop rare earth magnet
recycling in the UK and Germany, respectively, and a 100 per cent interest in Mkango UK, focused on long loop
rare earth magnet recycling in the UK via a chemical route.
Maginito and CoTec are also rolling out the HPMS recycling technology into the United States via the 50/50
owned HyProMag USA LLC joint venture company. HyProMag is also evaluating other jurisdictions, and recently
launched a collaboration with Envipro on rare earth magnet recycling in Japan.
Mkango also owns the advanced stage Songwe Hill rare earths project and an extensive rare earths, uranium,
tantalum, niobium, rutile, nickel and cobalt exploration portfolio in Malawi, and the Pulawy rare earths
separation project in Poland.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward -looking statements (within the meaning of that term under applicable
securities laws) with respect to Mkango. Generally, forward looking statements can be identified by the use of
words such as “targeted”, “plans”, “expec ts” or “is expected to”, “scheduled”, “estimates” “intends”,
“anticipates”, “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or
results “can”, “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “might” or “will”, occur or be achieved, or the negative
connotations thereof. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward -looking statements, as
there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By
their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and
uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts,
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projections and other forward -looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and
results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results
expressed or implied by such forward -looking statements. Such factors and risks include, without limiting the
foregoing, the success of REEmelt and SAHP to achieve their aims and the commercial application of the results,
the availability of (or delays in obtaining) financing to develop the va rious recycling plants in the UK, Germany
and the US, governmental action and other market effects on global demand and pricing for the metals and
associated downstream products for which Mkango is researching and developing, the ability to scale the HPMS
and chemical recycling technologies to commercial sca le, competitors having greater financial capability and
effective competing technologies in the recycling business of Maginito and separation business of Mkango ,
availability of scrap supplies for recycl ing activities, government regulation (including the impact of
environmental and other regulations) on and the economics in relation to recycling and the development of the
various recycling plants of Maginito and future investments in the United States pu rsuant to the cooperation
agreement between Maginito and CoTec, the outcome and timing of the completion of the feasibility studies,
cost overruns, complexities in building and operating the plants, and the positive results of feasibility studies on
the various proposed aspects of Maginito’s activities. The forward -looking statements contained in this news
release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any
intention and assume no obligation to update o r revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Additionally, the Company
undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of
the matters discussed above.
For further information on Mkango, please contact:
Mkango Resources Limited
William Dawes Alexander Lemon
Chief Executive Officer President
[email protected] [email protected]
Canada: +1 403 444 5979
www.mkango.ca
@MkangoResources
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP
Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker
Jeff Keating, Caroline Rowe
UK: +44 20 3470 0470
Alternative Resource Capital
Joint Broker
Alex Wood, Keith Dowsing
UK: +44 20 7186 9004/5
The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither
the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any equity or other
securities of the Company in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the
United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold within
the United States to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the
registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
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