Project Phoenix is our $781 million expansion and modernization project at
Mountain Pass. We are transforming Mountain Pass and creating the world's most technologically advanced, energy efficient, and environmentally superior rare earth production facility in the world. We began construction on the project in January 2011
The facilities at Mountain Pass were originally built in the 1960s, when Molycorp was primarily producing europium for color television sets. In the 1970s and 80s, the facilities were expanded as Molycorp increased its product lines. Today, however, the facilities at Mountain Pass are largely worn and weathered by time and are no longer sufficient for the company to compete in the global rare earths marketplace.
Starting in 2004, our scientists and engineers began to rethink our processes, and they ultimately created a wide variety of
new and innovative process technologies that revolutionize how produce rare earths. From dramatic increases in recovery rates to the recycling and reuse of our wastewater, the advances simultaneously lowered our production costs and improved our environmental performance. We have spent the past 3 years testing and scaling those technologies, and with Project Phoenix, we are building the facilities necessary to take all of our new process technologies - and the efficiencies they create - to commercial scale.
Upon the completion of Phase 1, which will be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2012, we will have the ability to produce approximately 19,050 metric tons (mt) of rare earth oxide (REO) equivalent per year at Mountain Pass. At the end of 2012, we will have the capacity to produce up to 40,000 mt of REO per year. Based on our estimated reserves and an expected annual production rate of approximately 19,050 mt of REO under our initial modernization and expansion plan, our expected mine life is in excess of 30 years. Learn more about
our production plans.
To view photos of Project Phoenix's progress or to take the video fly-over tour, please explore the links below: