The company has initiated the expansion at its demonstration plant located at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg, Virginia. New solvent extraction circuits are currently being installed to process feedstock similar to the Super-Pure Rare Earth Carbonate expected from Aclara’s ionic clay deposits in Chile and Brazil. To accommodate this, Aclara has doubled the physical footprint of its demonstration facility and plans to increase its technical staff accordingly.

Project Dynamo’s industrial-scale design is being modified to integrate these additional circuits, increasing the projected number of mixer-settlers from 340 to 478. CEO Ramon Barua noted that yttrium is a central focus of this expansion, citing its high concentration in the company’s Penco and Carina projects. With data centers and AI-driven power demand fueling interest in high-temperature turbine materials, Aclara aims to capitalize on these sectors while reducing Western dependence on imported rare earths. The company is targeting a groundbreaking date in the first quarter of 2027, provided that necessary financing is secured.