{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"149651","rtpr_id":"nGNX8lfrd4-20260922","ticker":"CRML","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["CRML","GRML","MP","USAR","UUUU"],"title":"REE, Critical Metals Demand Surging as Western Nations Race to Secure Alternatives","author":"Globe Newswire","published_at":"2026-09-22T12:30:00.589Z","article_body":"AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MiningNewsWire Editorial\nCoverage\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=OQa4qNJdMNTzcuY1-7-F5StpXJgdK50hh89vpQwW7bSXHKNSJ78I15FNvAFNwtkDGEEGQmESm7ouulGcTPg9UZYoyKn-1S8DJs0i0HhKU2ogB1G1HGz0ZhqjHSe2fClr):\nRare earth elements sit quietly inside electric vehicle motors, wind turbines,\ndata centers, advanced defense systems — and much more. Yet one country\ndominates the mining, refining and magnet production, and global demand keeps\nclimbing. That imbalance has turned the search for new, Western-aligned\nsources into an urgent economic and security priority. Greenland Mines Ltd.\n(NASDAQ: GRML) (profile)\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=TMhEEVFx2ARdz20BaMBmbUlXG9_6GRE_HouALN6Qsu11YOLtjwEg3BnEtM5p0M7fLg8v6OgRdG3v-UoQpr0AJ17hUXg4oii0nJkGDiVCvJtuBO5u8PNxD3HBv6pc2lzb)\nhas made a significant move in that race, announcing\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=ZQ0kOuS_qar01iwI_oF_cynVh-X1v-Nd85tfa2W-ugXnLp61ILDf-z4pv2YQ_wxqCrbIpqH-VTgZtj5kQixYJQ==)\nthat it has applied to more than double its footprint in West Greenland, which\ncould turn one promising deposit into a full rare earth district. If approved,\nthe move could position Greenland Mines squarely among other leaders,\nincluding MP Materials Corp.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=OVrdaRs1oIOXidpBlAAt58LW7gA5huauMn8v9LMnBzqRxea4zx3PgEabCLlxbCD8hXjaYsBP7hrhUVmzqT1jHYE5zy_BJPSzfRQdoC7XJ2bdOPunM6UOWtvN-kXfAJzg3rweUU2I1gWdNFZep6tf4s86CTodTZo-HKM-0OS1ZnKosoage5OorjJeGTMHggEb)\n(NYSE: MP), USA Rare Earth Inc.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=iOuRMZI_mhylkd6rFjVSh8O1S4JeM6gDWnG0zWR3cy5gGjHRhD-H9bOI0p_bCFK4J63o3rJ096CItVrRYIYXU3biBgiOvlBggTdFqaMYnA3lmECVKwjXwg89h_5HTETmVh1sd8VMSCctXUzRVWW8GYLXe6g89SA36qp23RM5av13A6DwYGm2EKUsRd35CK-h)\n(NASDAQ: USAR), Energy Fuels Inc.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=EPg6DwBwZtxJIvQlQ3ZyXdUkNKptghjYxxcatHIthFt1M0qGo4PWChGggmBFzx9HqcXSer3rFdHAyKIDzfBzx12q6t6VSRf3OyjLtOANlHVXKaeCDyCqgyNtXs4xxJmKN-T7lDV9cCLMvScJZmbfAocy_RvPCW5kDvjQzTBONDOccp-tx_xlBcXMq19I1iRO)\n(NYSE American: UUUU) and Critical Metals Corp.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=QevZWt0mgEenxfyLFFKEgYkyhS3fM3YXEqudeilbhTFEomD1tXhcINnLxR5ekBbO9TniS7OgLrX3DuBCUItw5-xT7Ac0TsbR8VNXQb0VbJybjE0cuuF0KonHDjoljHwNviiCWW0IsjsM8tAnwJrJocq3yhVkcha51QkfKYxw2--jCe5QgtyfOfqhi8Qby-qd)\n(NASDAQ: CRML), that are working to advancing rare earth and critical-mineral\nresources aimed at strengthening Western supply chains for critical\napplications.\n* The IEA finds that demand for the four magnet rare earths has doubled since\n2015 and should grow by another third by 2030. \n* Greenland Mines announced that it has submitted an application to the\ngovernment of Greenland for a new license that would more than double the\ncompany’s footprint across a known rare earth and carbonatite district.\n* Sarfartoq is a carbonatite-hosted rare earth project enriched in neodymium\nand praseodymium.\n* Greenland Mines’ filing arrived just days after a major geopolitical\ndevelopment.\n* The company's strategy is focused on advancing high-quality Greenlandic\nmineral assets capable of supporting diversified and secure Western\ncritical-minerals supply chains.\nClick here\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=Xx4X4bHU_e6iD3bvDqx9qljScn8QjkRAbp-mShHTSDfnwKD1pCWVRpKxIp-6rX7iWkOFIe9OLlai79H6X8YeXA==)\nto view the custom infographic of the Greenland Mines editorial.\n\nWhy the World Cannot Live Without Rare Earths\n\nDespite their name, rare earth elements (“REEs”) are not geologically\nscarce. The International Energy Agency (“IEA”) explains\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=W8LgyxPvWYFsHJCowChEUIGPhJTt6IoeGI_8G3urfhP_nI-Be5qtUk-X_VHx7swzcnKEXxaEQo44LSR9plP23w==)\nthat these 17 elements are fairly plentiful in Earth's crust. However, they\nare seldom found in concentrations that are economically viable to mine. Their\nvalue comes from performance.\n\nHigh-performance neodymium-iron-boron magnets, built mainly from neodymium and\npraseodymium, underpin electric vehicles, wind turbines, industrial motors and\nAI data centers. They also appear in aerospace, medical and defense systems.\nAccording to the same IEA report, permanent magnets account for around 95% of\nrare earth consumption by value.\n\nDemand is rising fast. The IEA finds that demand for the four magnet rare\nearths has doubled since 2015 and should grow by another third by 2030.\nRobotics, automation and digital technologies are expected to add momentum\nafter that. Outside China, the agency projects demand for magnet rare earths\nwill rise 50% by 2035, with electric vehicles contributing the most.\n\nSupply, however, is highly concentrated. In 2024, China accounted for 60% of\nmined magnet rare earths, 91% of refined output and 94% of sintered magnet\nproduction. U.S. Geological Survey data show\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=HeNlLLSR0oT9v3ds4dVp7yMesuwpS--BVP0KkkPR9bkaXeVtAnzySfkR4qDcR7tht0x5uzEHcenKFckLGy0gBg==)\na similar picture at the mine level, putting China's 2025 output at 270,000 of\nthe 390,000 tons mined worldwide, or roughly 69%.\n\nThat concentration became a real-world problem in April 2025, when China\nimposed export controls on seven heavy rare earth elements. The IEA says some\nautomakers in the United States and Europe cut utilization rates or\ntemporarily halted production. China widened the controls in October 2025. In\nNovember, it suspended that expansion for one year, while the April controls\nstayed in place.\n\nThe financial stakes are enormous. If the full October controls were\nimplemented, the IEA estimates that $6.5 trillion of annual downstream\nproduction outside China would be at risk. Existing and planned projects\noutside China would cover only about 50% of 2035 mining demand and 25% of\nrefining demand. They would cover well under 20% of magnet demand. Closing\nthose gaps would take around $60 billion of investment over the next decade.\n\nProgress is real but modest. The IEA reports\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=jtqrLjpdVpvcLOHu_tcgE_LsUELtxDihWXg26xb1mk1Fw3tv0CirMktU5oj_X8m65J3R3dF41eZ0JpDwWfJSbQ==)\nthat the top supplier's share of rare earth refining fell from more than 90%\nin 2023 to 85% in 2025. It could reach 70% by 2035, if planned projects come\nonline on schedule. Recycling could trim primary demand by up to 35% by 2050,\nbut it cannot replace new mines. New, dependable sources are essential. One\nsuch effort is unfolding in West Greenland, where Greenland Mines has applied\nto increase its control position in the Sarfartoq Rare Earth Magnet District.\n\nThe Filing That Doubles the Footprint\n\nOn Monday, Greenland Mines announced that it had submitted an application to\nthe government of Greenland for a new license. The license would cover\napproximately 262 km(2) immediately east of the company's existing Sarfartoq\nlicense. The filing followed significant reconnaissance work by the company.\nIf granted, the move would increase Greenland Mines' control at Sarfartoq from\napproximately 192 km(2) to approximately 454 km(2), more than doubling the\ncompany’s footprint across a known rare earth and carbonatite district.\n\nAccording to the company, a granted license would create a more connected\nproject footprint and preserve flexibility for future infrastructure. It would\nalso support the advancement of the southern ST zones. Greenland Mines points\nto historical stream-sediment geochemistry, regional aeromagnetic data and\nother geological information that together mark the applied-for area as a\nprospective new frontier for rare earth exploration.\n\n“This application is about building Sarfartoq at district scale,” said\nGreenland Mines President Dr. Bo Møller Stensgaard. “At ST1, we now have a\nnew S-K 1300 Mineral Resource Estimate, an independent Initial Assessment with\nexceptional high-case economics. We are advancing a defined rare earth\nneodymium and praseodymium dominated development asset, but we do not believe\nthe opportunity ends at ST1.\n\n“Our strategy is straightforward,” he continued. “Advance ST1 toward\ndevelopment, unlock the value of the less-developed known ST zones and\nsystematically test the wider district for the next rare earth discovery.”\n\nThe company set careful expectations, calling the ground an “exploration\nopportunity.” The application remains subject to review and approval by the\ngovernment of Greenland, and no assurance is given on timing, terms or\noutcome. Greenland exploration licenses grant exclusive rights over specified\nareas and carry ongoing exploration commitments. Applications also go through\na statutory review and consultation process. The new area is not part of the\ncurrent ST1 resource estimate, mine plan or economic analysis, and no resource\nhas been defined there.\n\nA Neodymium-Rich Deposit With Room to Grow\n\nThat said, the potential is evident. Sarfartoq is a carbonatite-hosted rare\nearth project enriched in neodymium and praseodymium. The ST1 deposit sits\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=-q9OWY3Y32WFSdAvkg9hHQKQQsZ9rSgUnKOWDxib9b-JOiCzngbRQn7-cCchBoFMlrkhU5HSwO8vkZMYxjpgtQ==)\nabout 60 km southwest of Kangerlussuaq and its international civilian and\nmilitary airport.\n\nThe new 262 km(2) area creates a contiguous project position of roughly 454\nkm(2). That follows an evaluation of earlier geological work that pointed to\npotential for more rare earths eastward of the Sarfartoq deposit. Greenland\nMines says ST1 hosts conventional minerals, including bastnäsite and\nmonazite, which are already processed\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=9HTR3Q7BKfDpf2f-V5_tUpEVtBS_ackxo4X2hC6u2Kuds-PaCCeS8Xrxb4Z6DyhgCSASCAR7dvZjaHXmkG441A==)\nat commercial scale elsewhere.\n\nThe ST1 numbers explain the company's enthusiasm. Its S-K 1300 resource\nestimate includes 6.9 million tons of Indicated resources grading 1.60% total\nrare earth oxides. It also includes 5.3 million tons of Inferred resources\ngrading 0.96%. Combined, that is about 12.2 million tons at 1.32%.\n\nAn independent Initial Assessment sets a high-case, pretax net present value\nof approximately $2.05 billion. That figure uses an 8% real discount rate and\ncarries an internal rate of return of 118.6%. Excluding Inferred resources,\nthe high-case value is $1.49 billion. Neodymium and praseodymium make up about\n84% of the modeled in-concentrate basket value. The company estimates planned\nannual output would equal roughly 34% of all NdPr oxide refined outside China\nat 2025 consumption levels.\n\nThe district-scale strategy is designed to move ST1 forward while opening a\nsecond front. The company says ST1 occupies well under 1% of its existing\nlicense area. Five other known occurrences — ST40, ST19, ST24, ST31 and ST43\n— remain largely untested and sit outside the current economics. ST40 lies\nabout 4 km from ST1, and Greenland Mines says historical sampling there\nsuggests even richer neodymium enrichment. Its plan pairs ST1 development work\nwith systematic testing of the wider district, including drone-based magnetic\nsurveys ahead of ground follow-up.\n\nPartnerships and next steps add further context. Neo Performance Materials\nbecame a strategic shareholder when Greenland Mines completed\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=d2IC5gpBrzY6t6P69f8bUUZOdRrapiKnx1TVDV4d4JjWanlYf-fnMg-4X40huMEuFesGRL0_deGekh97QZF6Ow==)\nits acquisition of the Sarfartoq license holder. Neo retains nonbinding\nofftake rights on up to 60% of future concentrate. That material would be\nprocessed at its Silmet facility in Estonia. Test work produced flotation\nconcentrates of about 8.25% total rare earth oxides at a design recovery of\n63.6%. Planned work includes infill drilling, pilot-scale metallurgy and\ncontinued environmental baseline studies, with the aim of a Pre-Feasibility\nStudy. The Initial Assessment is preliminary, and it includes Inferred\nresources that are too speculative to be classified as mineral reserves. No\nreserves have been estimated.\n\nWhy Timing, Geography Favor Greenland\n\nGreenland Mines’ filing arrived just days after a major geopolitical\ndevelopment. On September 18, U.S. President Donald Trump announced\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=ZQ0kOuS_qar01iwI_oF_c7AuczQ1SzUqzTBfN8B_XIAza_9i4sdQgM9QpfqPodtUfjcSvx0ZxutOVO_Ee9udEA==)\nan agreement with Denmark and Greenland, describing the agreement as giving\nthe United States “permanent control over security” in Greenland.\n\nDanish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the deal recognizes Danish\nsovereignty and Greenlanders' right to self-determination. Signing\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=e_yVhKj1HcgVo3o1yXu_aGs9uPDgRsPcMk2nhd1zhmlmi6Z7upJYBVqZGGAKl8JNB0h6LXWnH5a6APP-uxW1mw==)\nof the agreement is expected at the UN General Assembly, with parliamentary\naction still needed. Trump also noted\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=bIlKNsT7CSAR260UR6MAhDHOkSXuwq08-SDahPFTsBPr2rE_i7uRPFF-O1fh0Fhcquq271IFQEeKeAGHQb_l7w==)\nthat no U.S. adversary could have a base or make sensitive investments in\nGreenland without U.S. written approval. The full text has not been released,\nso details may evolve.\n\nGreenland Mines welcomed\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=eJ0d5AiVePn4za01vcX6LmNrbcdZYp2eUw2MVJTGu5SyUUMq8q9Uh2jOJ_fXB5qnmPj8yaa22L2bHekMzOpYxg==)\nthe announcement. Stensgaard said Greenland is becoming one of the most\nstrategically important regions in the world, adding that the same importance\nextends to the critical minerals needed for defense, advanced technology and\nenergy security.\n\nBuilding a Western Critical Minerals Future in Greenland\n\nThe company's strategy is focused on advancing high-quality Greenlandic\nmineral assets capable of supporting diversified and secure Western\ncritical-minerals supply chains. Greenland Mines also promotes a North\nAtlantic Critical Metals Corridor, which would link Greenland's resources with\ndownstream processing in allied jurisdictions. That vision fits the IEA's\npoint that supply security depends on refining and magnets, not mining alone.\n\nThe geological case is also compelling. USGS lists Greenland with 1.5 million\ntons of rare earth reserves, yet the territory does not currently produce the\nmetals. That gap between resources and output suggests untapped potential.\n\nThe story could come down to the simple facts. Demand for magnet rare earths\nhas doubled since 2015 and is still rising. Refining and magnet production\nremain concentrated in one country, and export controls have shown how quickly\nthat can hurt industry. Greenland Mines is pursuing Sarfartoq because the\nproject offers a defined neodymium-praseodymium anchor in ST1. The company\nalso sees room for a wider district. Its 262 km² application would connect\nand extend its ground while more exploration is done.\n\nWhile the license is not yet granted and the acreage is unproven, the\ncompany’s strategy appears clear. Greenland Mines is working to advance one\ndeposit toward development while testing whether Sarfartoq can grow into a new\nWestern rare earth region.\n\nRare Earth Supply Chains Take Shape\n\nRare earth elements and critical minerals have become increasingly important\nto global manufacturing, advanced technologies, energy systems and national\nsecurity. Across the sector, companies are moving to develop more secure and\ndiversified supply chains through new mining projects, expanded processing\ncapacity and investments in domestic manufacturing. \n\nMP Materials Corp.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=OVrdaRs1oIOXidpBlAAt52xczcq9FYSdJYp-vduoeFQuME-FLiY2yqV6xVOhfmqPSAzJdi8r5DjDZa6OYdIunP9RZJ5VRyTD32Uxoj2NBLhSJu7WaTqhnfNHPVWeejRAf9c6AHXiIuNN4TYPBoI1kLzCotgJMRBH6gHBYfpRum9VCp7uKL3uFJeiBYOduMcf)\n(NYSE: MP) has selected\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=gtBc34rmzT03QdRBr6a-mnODRJbEMKLjoTjB7Ws9eV5zaauKHUwEWPHqBxbPjeXvsRxEiCZR3GNAk9Hg1ArzBQ==)\na 120-acre site in Northlake, Texas, to develop 10X, the company's planned\nlarge-scale rare earth magnet manufacturing campus. Located less than 10 miles\nfrom MP's existing Independence facility in Fort Worth, the new campus will\ncement North Texas as the center of gravity for the United States' rare earth\nmagnet supply chain. 10X will significantly expand MP's fully integrated U.S.\nrare earth magnetics manufacturing platform, which already encompasses mining\nand refining, metallization and alloying, sintering, finished magnet\nproduction and closed-loop recycling.\n\nUSA Rare Earth Inc.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=iOuRMZI_mhylkd6rFjVSh8Q3NoLA3Hx--1xSiNHbI4ASJRQI14tCugV2fQzHOO03vKzSD1SE8w3pn-NVOeCAaknfJZAMyV4HB14BPBwpjumZhS39UrdGyU7AVHS2DjFXvXaBPqowdSkR5gXj_g8xWLURAiIKaIX-a6r9v2oJxHoDz9KtRnVapOqMcJEnsnWn)\n(NASDAQ: USAR) has broken\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=d94Wr6GRQ-ZgVbt3zrrndjqza7vMn_EDk1IJTTBhFfsSMqifCEiN3HH-urx1bFC6o3prZbKYJn_VWELDvmj66A==)\nground on its new rare earth metal and magnet manufacturing facility in\nBlacksburg, South Carolina. The move marks a major step in the company’s\neffort to build a secure, integrated rare earth supply chain for the United\nStates and its allies. Located on a 124-acre site in Bailey Industrial Park in\nCherokee County, the approximately 800,000-square-foot facility represents an\napproximately $1.2 billion investment and is expected to create roughly 490\nhigh-skill, high-wage manufacturing jobs in South Carolina’s upstate.\n\nEnergy Fuels Inc.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=EPg6DwBwZtxJIvQlQ3ZyXdbJgqIvrWnQtHTVRxnbucm_wgt0webOzwJi95aXOAdn4sLZwC54FiNFMDf4fz3rMFUZXg4msKnG-HGURTFWu_fEfGJOFYXbFbQ_NcMUbfNo4kcqNiyr2NUTwFOSb3PGUxfj3rsMWR6klIQy2i4NAQ17NUjjSD3eGGW0mhvkAWlN)\n(NYSE American: UUUU) has completed\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=d2IC5gpBrzY6t6P69f8bUYqP4Od2Xv4LLILdWUvOjtBB06lTsJJTb_J_5Mg_VaYTWzqjFjmtyQR2X2cqc8cmwA==)\nits acquisition of Australian Strategic Materials Limited (“ASM”), a\nleading producer of REE metals and alloys. The acquisition of ASM marks a\nmajor milestone in Energy Fuels' long-term growth strategy to build an\nintegrated mine-to-magnet rare earth platform. By adding ASM's operating\nKorean Metals Plant in South Korea, Energy Fuels immediately gains commercial\nscale metal and alloy production capacity, expanding into one of the most\ncritical and constrained vulnerabilities of global rare earth supply chains.\n\nCritical Metals Corp.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=QevZWt0mgEenxfyLFFKEgYkyhS3fM3YXEqudeilbhTGgLGywIXRL2nyY_ZhTlsYogLS8hK3e1pQK55ltaUXCU1eKxmwTdYMegNvdqnwaUtsydIlEQ5lA7_NV8P_K-Iw0FazgUKqyY9H9qvpBfKX4XO4l5faLRLDXqgjDl0W-RKsJarUma537vDdtRqlvGYsZ)\n(NASDAQ: CRML) has been shortlisted\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=lSTTWZgXAHb8WMJOfRDMAgUGNZFveV30yfCT24UkbfSQe8s-liyF6rWXqTK1JF7B_bBAh77v2I0Gj0fP5tnczw==)\nto proceed to the next stage of the government of Kenya’s competitive tender\nprocess for the right to develop the Mrima Hill rare earth and niobium\nproject. The move is a powerful endorsement of the consortium’s financial\nstrength, world-class technical capability and vision of developing Mrima Hill\nand Kenya as a regional rare earth processing hub. Mrima Hill is widely\nregarded as one of the most significant undeveloped rare earth and niobium\ndeposits globally, positioned on Kenya’s southern coast with direct access\nto the Port of Mombasa.\n\nThese milestone moves reflect growing momentum toward building more resilient\nrare earth and critical-mineral supply chains outside traditional centers of\nproduction. As governments and industries seek reliable supplies of materials\nessential to defense, energy and advanced technologies, investment is\nexpanding across the value chain, from developing new mineral resources to\nestablishing processing and manufacturing capacity capable of turning those\nresources into high-value finished products.\n\nFor more information, visit Greenland Mines.\n\nAbout MiningNewsWire\n\nMiningNewsWire\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=OQa4qNJdMNTzcuY1-7-F5Yiqgu5nA2CyyIwtoum-ht462zh6YGeppFBpcB8wqX-jPbVKIp1Hw7Bywdnwtbmr8k1fbYQ0K5aT5HM9kJzzNTQ=) (“MNW”)\nis a specialized communications platform with a focus on developments and\nopportunities in the Global Mining and Resources sectors. It is one of 75+\nbrands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=IdUnp4tbmj4lTXlJhNWFeWUqe09XggczB2PWTixMWvczvhYcnPoPwEUtreu6WeSTj_HE4Ez-jRR3TJ_-DyV54wr3X7QsB3CeZex7Hb7BsIQ5tMW4H7pVix6vpFAI_-jnKcsuDvYryDi2ygHrR1fSIdyWxQbkN_UOegNw9JAWxpg=) @ IBN\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=GgSK7qpu76Uzk9c7BzdcycS7HGFpjH4Kq5j_tuv8UpPRTntSiSyBj3ZeWX3XK3xZqyO0NbmztFnjC8m-adIdapyNzRLmQqWGJmUnhNXRAMM=) that\ndelivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=N48a34e_mWqSQWo6gMXatct-30p6z9Kwa1kOK0ykZACntVkUIDn4fw5-TAnEWN97DFcoytGCiPDybFe0Wl1IrflyJ-dqrXO51Ej64KrplSE=) to\nefficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and\ndiverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=gfZrXMsjCVlICxPViPdT7_D2-ryPeAJeCCGXeGc5qhflrf279IISjMqGCC-BycnXOLb5S-ejJZV9jxOeCQPz8EvUTm9JTwayCFtw_B_Qfqb07rKk79xuq1GjxGFfDu6OnBX18dHZVbVLXOeBWVoCNDn99goOQJS4g1NnSwZYKieKvM6z0T3KvsfujOhDIONmAzTL8stmRWGoolMcqW_v9puprdQX4OCscKINtg6JCX8=); (3)\npress release enhancement\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=0gCVR_oCYCLXxnZuBLqM8If6sd72GEbozM7WzWbv03OtPp2csd0iUtuXzLOy06Rwi2xeHD17M_XzcRJUEcn8tX0HUaY5UEdgPhwRFSEdN4sofVTE3K8DeIKcM4Gprv-q2u5B7bSIS4SHvEktZ1Xi9YUWn9gM7psCPGXQ1FrcW_ybwPng0ZPFqOW0dcWAYxVZ) to\nensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=ohiliiYMkO-5VEXlFzbLLyGGmtGtnhD2TBrBto3Lk4wXZhT9wWal-A5bbH7mCEq8xJRks8gIZoznfENLA4xXURyYuODqFvwgCgU9cVns12Vj6i1XJqpbwM_fe0Ck2AFoziG5uL0soCWVz5XYF08KGw==) via\nIBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of\ntailored corporate communications solutions\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=Rke61UFkkia7eFktsBAPXTEjyEZXYg3Tfo-OoRMW-1wnJemFBS-68IFaFxHwZs09dvG8eAOwuQhMejiIssUPMU02Emu5k2YE0LWMXwI-2Ra5uXWMcwes8OT750A6lITKexkAuVXRZTohNUlMDnQoCw==).\nWith broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers,\nMNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that\nwant to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers,\njournalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of\ninformation in today’s market, MNW brings its clients unparalleled\nrecognition and brand awareness.\nMNW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information\nconverge.\n\nTo receive SMS alerts from MiningNewsWire, text “BigHole” to 888-902-4192\n(U.S. Mobile Phones Only)\n\nFor more information, please visit https://www.MiningNewsWire.com\nPlease see full terms of use and disclaimers on the MiningNewsWire website\napplicable to all content provided by MNW, wherever published or republished:\nhttps://www.MiningNewsWire.com/Disclaimer\n\nMiningNewsWire\nAustin, Texas\nwww.MiningNewsWire.com\n512.354.7000 Office\nEditor@MiningNewsWire.com\n\nMiningNewsWire is powered by IBN\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=mvLPu1FBqt1vRroaOX-QkArJ8YJuRXfaGikaD-4kaKVs1tpbEPs4FMkNqnKqtBHOdyyG1SJ_KOjqcRuET2DizAOGaVCGXn47INf04XiUEm4=)\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c6215404-aa77-48be-b347-27563f3d733a)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nGNX8lfrd4-20260922","title":"REE, Critical Metals Demand Surging as Western Nations Race to Secure Alternatives","author":"Globe Newswire","ticker":"CRML","created":"2026-09-22T12:30:00.589Z","tickers":["CRML","GRML","MP","USAR","UUUU"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MiningNewsWire Editorial\nCoverage\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=OQa4qNJdMNTzcuY1-7-F5StpXJgdK50hh89vpQwW7bSXHKNSJ78I15FNvAFNwtkDGEEGQmESm7ouulGcTPg9UZYoyKn-1S8DJs0i0HhKU2ogB1G1HGz0ZhqjHSe2fClr):\nRare earth elements sit quietly inside electric vehicle motors, wind turbines,\ndata centers, advanced defense systems — and much more. Yet one country\ndominates the mining, refining and magnet production, and global demand keeps\nclimbing. That imbalance has turned the search for new, Western-aligned\nsources into an urgent economic and security priority. Greenland Mines Ltd.\n(NASDAQ: GRML) (profile)\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=TMhEEVFx2ARdz20BaMBmbUlXG9_6GRE_HouALN6Qsu11YOLtjwEg3BnEtM5p0M7fLg8v6OgRdG3v-UoQpr0AJ17hUXg4oii0nJkGDiVCvJtuBO5u8PNxD3HBv6pc2lzb)\nhas made a significant move in that race, announcing\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=ZQ0kOuS_qar01iwI_oF_cynVh-X1v-Nd85tfa2W-ugXnLp61ILDf-z4pv2YQ_wxqCrbIpqH-VTgZtj5kQixYJQ==)\nthat it has applied to more than double its footprint in West Greenland, which\ncould turn one promising deposit into a full rare earth district. If approved,\nthe move could position Greenland Mines squarely among other leaders,\nincluding MP Materials Corp.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=OVrdaRs1oIOXidpBlAAt58LW7gA5huauMn8v9LMnBzqRxea4zx3PgEabCLlxbCD8hXjaYsBP7hrhUVmzqT1jHYE5zy_BJPSzfRQdoC7XJ2bdOPunM6UOWtvN-kXfAJzg3rweUU2I1gWdNFZep6tf4s86CTodTZo-HKM-0OS1ZnKosoage5OorjJeGTMHggEb)\n(NYSE: MP), USA Rare Earth Inc.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=iOuRMZI_mhylkd6rFjVSh8O1S4JeM6gDWnG0zWR3cy5gGjHRhD-H9bOI0p_bCFK4J63o3rJ096CItVrRYIYXU3biBgiOvlBggTdFqaMYnA3lmECVKwjXwg89h_5HTETmVh1sd8VMSCctXUzRVWW8GYLXe6g89SA36qp23RM5av13A6DwYGm2EKUsRd35CK-h)\n(NASDAQ: USAR), Energy Fuels Inc.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=EPg6DwBwZtxJIvQlQ3ZyXdUkNKptghjYxxcatHIthFt1M0qGo4PWChGggmBFzx9HqcXSer3rFdHAyKIDzfBzx12q6t6VSRf3OyjLtOANlHVXKaeCDyCqgyNtXs4xxJmKN-T7lDV9cCLMvScJZmbfAocy_RvPCW5kDvjQzTBONDOccp-tx_xlBcXMq19I1iRO)\n(NYSE American: UUUU) and Critical Metals Corp.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=QevZWt0mgEenxfyLFFKEgYkyhS3fM3YXEqudeilbhTFEomD1tXhcINnLxR5ekBbO9TniS7OgLrX3DuBCUItw5-xT7Ac0TsbR8VNXQb0VbJybjE0cuuF0KonHDjoljHwNviiCWW0IsjsM8tAnwJrJocq3yhVkcha51QkfKYxw2--jCe5QgtyfOfqhi8Qby-qd)\n(NASDAQ: CRML), that are working to advancing rare earth and critical-mineral\nresources aimed at strengthening Western supply chains for critical\napplications.\n* The IEA finds that demand for the four magnet rare earths has doubled since\n2015 and should grow by another third by 2030. \n* Greenland Mines announced that it has submitted an application to the\ngovernment of Greenland for a new license that would more than double the\ncompany’s footprint across a known rare earth and carbonatite district.\n* Sarfartoq is a carbonatite-hosted rare earth project enriched in neodymium\nand praseodymium.\n* Greenland Mines’ filing arrived just days after a major geopolitical\ndevelopment.\n* The company's strategy is focused on advancing high-quality Greenlandic\nmineral assets capable of supporting diversified and secure Western\ncritical-minerals supply chains.\nClick here\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=Xx4X4bHU_e6iD3bvDqx9qljScn8QjkRAbp-mShHTSDfnwKD1pCWVRpKxIp-6rX7iWkOFIe9OLlai79H6X8YeXA==)\nto view the custom infographic of the Greenland Mines editorial.\n\nWhy the World Cannot Live Without Rare Earths\n\nDespite their name, rare earth elements (“REEs”) are not geologically\nscarce. The International Energy Agency (“IEA”) explains\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=W8LgyxPvWYFsHJCowChEUIGPhJTt6IoeGI_8G3urfhP_nI-Be5qtUk-X_VHx7swzcnKEXxaEQo44LSR9plP23w==)\nthat these 17 elements are fairly plentiful in Earth's crust. However, they\nare seldom found in concentrations that are economically viable to mine. Their\nvalue comes from performance.\n\nHigh-performance neodymium-iron-boron magnets, built mainly from neodymium and\npraseodymium, underpin electric vehicles, wind turbines, industrial motors and\nAI data centers. They also appear in aerospace, medical and defense systems.\nAccording to the same IEA report, permanent magnets account for around 95% of\nrare earth consumption by value.\n\nDemand is rising fast. The IEA finds that demand for the four magnet rare\nearths has doubled since 2015 and should grow by another third by 2030.\nRobotics, automation and digital technologies are expected to add momentum\nafter that. Outside China, the agency projects demand for magnet rare earths\nwill rise 50% by 2035, with electric vehicles contributing the most.\n\nSupply, however, is highly concentrated. In 2024, China accounted for 60% of\nmined magnet rare earths, 91% of refined output and 94% of sintered magnet\nproduction. U.S. Geological Survey data show\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=HeNlLLSR0oT9v3ds4dVp7yMesuwpS--BVP0KkkPR9bkaXeVtAnzySfkR4qDcR7tht0x5uzEHcenKFckLGy0gBg==)\na similar picture at the mine level, putting China's 2025 output at 270,000 of\nthe 390,000 tons mined worldwide, or roughly 69%.\n\nThat concentration became a real-world problem in April 2025, when China\nimposed export controls on seven heavy rare earth elements. The IEA says some\nautomakers in the United States and Europe cut utilization rates or\ntemporarily halted production. China widened the controls in October 2025. In\nNovember, it suspended that expansion for one year, while the April controls\nstayed in place.\n\nThe financial stakes are enormous. If the full October controls were\nimplemented, the IEA estimates that $6.5 trillion of annual downstream\nproduction outside China would be at risk. Existing and planned projects\noutside China would cover only about 50% of 2035 mining demand and 25% of\nrefining demand. They would cover well under 20% of magnet demand. Closing\nthose gaps would take around $60 billion of investment over the next decade.\n\nProgress is real but modest. The IEA reports\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=jtqrLjpdVpvcLOHu_tcgE_LsUELtxDihWXg26xb1mk1Fw3tv0CirMktU5oj_X8m65J3R3dF41eZ0JpDwWfJSbQ==)\nthat the top supplier's share of rare earth refining fell from more than 90%\nin 2023 to 85% in 2025. It could reach 70% by 2035, if planned projects come\nonline on schedule. Recycling could trim primary demand by up to 35% by 2050,\nbut it cannot replace new mines. New, dependable sources are essential. One\nsuch effort is unfolding in West Greenland, where Greenland Mines has applied\nto increase its control position in the Sarfartoq Rare Earth Magnet District.\n\nThe Filing That Doubles the Footprint\n\nOn Monday, Greenland Mines announced that it had submitted an application to\nthe government of Greenland for a new license. The license would cover\napproximately 262 km(2) immediately east of the company's existing Sarfartoq\nlicense. The filing followed significant reconnaissance work by the company.\nIf granted, the move would increase Greenland Mines' control at Sarfartoq from\napproximately 192 km(2) to approximately 454 km(2), more than doubling the\ncompany’s footprint across a known rare earth and carbonatite district.\n\nAccording to the company, a granted license would create a more connected\nproject footprint and preserve flexibility for future infrastructure. It would\nalso support the advancement of the southern ST zones. Greenland Mines points\nto historical stream-sediment geochemistry, regional aeromagnetic data and\nother geological information that together mark the applied-for area as a\nprospective new frontier for rare earth exploration.\n\n“This application is about building Sarfartoq at district scale,” said\nGreenland Mines President Dr. Bo Møller Stensgaard. “At ST1, we now have a\nnew S-K 1300 Mineral Resource Estimate, an independent Initial Assessment with\nexceptional high-case economics. We are advancing a defined rare earth\nneodymium and praseodymium dominated development asset, but we do not believe\nthe opportunity ends at ST1.\n\n“Our strategy is straightforward,” he continued. “Advance ST1 toward\ndevelopment, unlock the value of the less-developed known ST zones and\nsystematically test the wider district for the next rare earth discovery.”\n\nThe company set careful expectations, calling the ground an “exploration\nopportunity.” The application remains subject to review and approval by the\ngovernment of Greenland, and no assurance is given on timing, terms or\noutcome. Greenland exploration licenses grant exclusive rights over specified\nareas and carry ongoing exploration commitments. Applications also go through\na statutory review and consultation process. The new area is not part of the\ncurrent ST1 resource estimate, mine plan or economic analysis, and no resource\nhas been defined there.\n\nA Neodymium-Rich Deposit With Room to Grow\n\nThat said, the potential is evident. Sarfartoq is a carbonatite-hosted rare\nearth project enriched in neodymium and praseodymium. The ST1 deposit sits\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=-q9OWY3Y32WFSdAvkg9hHQKQQsZ9rSgUnKOWDxib9b-JOiCzngbRQn7-cCchBoFMlrkhU5HSwO8vkZMYxjpgtQ==)\nabout 60 km southwest of Kangerlussuaq and its international civilian and\nmilitary airport.\n\nThe new 262 km(2) area creates a contiguous project position of roughly 454\nkm(2). That follows an evaluation of earlier geological work that pointed to\npotential for more rare earths eastward of the Sarfartoq deposit. Greenland\nMines says ST1 hosts conventional minerals, including bastnäsite and\nmonazite, which are already processed\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=9HTR3Q7BKfDpf2f-V5_tUpEVtBS_ackxo4X2hC6u2Kuds-PaCCeS8Xrxb4Z6DyhgCSASCAR7dvZjaHXmkG441A==)\nat commercial scale elsewhere.\n\nThe ST1 numbers explain the company's enthusiasm. Its S-K 1300 resource\nestimate includes 6.9 million tons of Indicated resources grading 1.60% total\nrare earth oxides. It also includes 5.3 million tons of Inferred resources\ngrading 0.96%. Combined, that is about 12.2 million tons at 1.32%.\n\nAn independent Initial Assessment sets a high-case, pretax net present value\nof approximately $2.05 billion. That figure uses an 8% real discount rate and\ncarries an internal rate of return of 118.6%. Excluding Inferred resources,\nthe high-case value is $1.49 billion. Neodymium and praseodymium make up about\n84% of the modeled in-concentrate basket value. The company estimates planned\nannual output would equal roughly 34% of all NdPr oxide refined outside China\nat 2025 consumption levels.\n\nThe district-scale strategy is designed to move ST1 forward while opening a\nsecond front. The company says ST1 occupies well under 1% of its existing\nlicense area. Five other known occurrences — ST40, ST19, ST24, ST31 and ST43\n— remain largely untested and sit outside the current economics. ST40 lies\nabout 4 km from ST1, and Greenland Mines says historical sampling there\nsuggests even richer neodymium enrichment. Its plan pairs ST1 development work\nwith systematic testing of the wider district, including drone-based magnetic\nsurveys ahead of ground follow-up.\n\nPartnerships and next steps add further context. Neo Performance Materials\nbecame a strategic shareholder when Greenland Mines completed\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=d2IC5gpBrzY6t6P69f8bUUZOdRrapiKnx1TVDV4d4JjWanlYf-fnMg-4X40huMEuFesGRL0_deGekh97QZF6Ow==)\nits acquisition of the Sarfartoq license holder. Neo retains nonbinding\nofftake rights on up to 60% of future concentrate. That material would be\nprocessed at its Silmet facility in Estonia. Test work produced flotation\nconcentrates of about 8.25% total rare earth oxides at a design recovery of\n63.6%. Planned work includes infill drilling, pilot-scale metallurgy and\ncontinued environmental baseline studies, with the aim of a Pre-Feasibility\nStudy. The Initial Assessment is preliminary, and it includes Inferred\nresources that are too speculative to be classified as mineral reserves. No\nreserves have been estimated.\n\nWhy Timing, Geography Favor Greenland\n\nGreenland Mines’ filing arrived just days after a major geopolitical\ndevelopment. On September 18, U.S. President Donald Trump announced\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=ZQ0kOuS_qar01iwI_oF_c7AuczQ1SzUqzTBfN8B_XIAza_9i4sdQgM9QpfqPodtUfjcSvx0ZxutOVO_Ee9udEA==)\nan agreement with Denmark and Greenland, describing the agreement as giving\nthe United States “permanent control over security” in Greenland.\n\nDanish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the deal recognizes Danish\nsovereignty and Greenlanders' right to self-determination. Signing\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=e_yVhKj1HcgVo3o1yXu_aGs9uPDgRsPcMk2nhd1zhmlmi6Z7upJYBVqZGGAKl8JNB0h6LXWnH5a6APP-uxW1mw==)\nof the agreement is expected at the UN General Assembly, with parliamentary\naction still needed. Trump also noted\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=bIlKNsT7CSAR260UR6MAhDHOkSXuwq08-SDahPFTsBPr2rE_i7uRPFF-O1fh0Fhcquq271IFQEeKeAGHQb_l7w==)\nthat no U.S. adversary could have a base or make sensitive investments in\nGreenland without U.S. written approval. The full text has not been released,\nso details may evolve.\n\nGreenland Mines welcomed\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=eJ0d5AiVePn4za01vcX6LmNrbcdZYp2eUw2MVJTGu5SyUUMq8q9Uh2jOJ_fXB5qnmPj8yaa22L2bHekMzOpYxg==)\nthe announcement. Stensgaard said Greenland is becoming one of the most\nstrategically important regions in the world, adding that the same importance\nextends to the critical minerals needed for defense, advanced technology and\nenergy security.\n\nBuilding a Western Critical Minerals Future in Greenland\n\nThe company's strategy is focused on advancing high-quality Greenlandic\nmineral assets capable of supporting diversified and secure Western\ncritical-minerals supply chains. Greenland Mines also promotes a North\nAtlantic Critical Metals Corridor, which would link Greenland's resources with\ndownstream processing in allied jurisdictions. That vision fits the IEA's\npoint that supply security depends on refining and magnets, not mining alone.\n\nThe geological case is also compelling. USGS lists Greenland with 1.5 million\ntons of rare earth reserves, yet the territory does not currently produce the\nmetals. That gap between resources and output suggests untapped potential.\n\nThe story could come down to the simple facts. Demand for magnet rare earths\nhas doubled since 2015 and is still rising. Refining and magnet production\nremain concentrated in one country, and export controls have shown how quickly\nthat can hurt industry. Greenland Mines is pursuing Sarfartoq because the\nproject offers a defined neodymium-praseodymium anchor in ST1. The company\nalso sees room for a wider district. Its 262 km² application would connect\nand extend its ground while more exploration is done.\n\nWhile the license is not yet granted and the acreage is unproven, the\ncompany’s strategy appears clear. Greenland Mines is working to advance one\ndeposit toward development while testing whether Sarfartoq can grow into a new\nWestern rare earth region.\n\nRare Earth Supply Chains Take Shape\n\nRare earth elements and critical minerals have become increasingly important\nto global manufacturing, advanced technologies, energy systems and national\nsecurity. Across the sector, companies are moving to develop more secure and\ndiversified supply chains through new mining projects, expanded processing\ncapacity and investments in domestic manufacturing. \n\nMP Materials Corp.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=OVrdaRs1oIOXidpBlAAt52xczcq9FYSdJYp-vduoeFQuME-FLiY2yqV6xVOhfmqPSAzJdi8r5DjDZa6OYdIunP9RZJ5VRyTD32Uxoj2NBLhSJu7WaTqhnfNHPVWeejRAf9c6AHXiIuNN4TYPBoI1kLzCotgJMRBH6gHBYfpRum9VCp7uKL3uFJeiBYOduMcf)\n(NYSE: MP) has selected\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=gtBc34rmzT03QdRBr6a-mnODRJbEMKLjoTjB7Ws9eV5zaauKHUwEWPHqBxbPjeXvsRxEiCZR3GNAk9Hg1ArzBQ==)\na 120-acre site in Northlake, Texas, to develop 10X, the company's planned\nlarge-scale rare earth magnet manufacturing campus. Located less than 10 miles\nfrom MP's existing Independence facility in Fort Worth, the new campus will\ncement North Texas as the center of gravity for the United States' rare earth\nmagnet supply chain. 10X will significantly expand MP's fully integrated U.S.\nrare earth magnetics manufacturing platform, which already encompasses mining\nand refining, metallization and alloying, sintering, finished magnet\nproduction and closed-loop recycling.\n\nUSA Rare Earth Inc.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=iOuRMZI_mhylkd6rFjVSh8Q3NoLA3Hx--1xSiNHbI4ASJRQI14tCugV2fQzHOO03vKzSD1SE8w3pn-NVOeCAaknfJZAMyV4HB14BPBwpjumZhS39UrdGyU7AVHS2DjFXvXaBPqowdSkR5gXj_g8xWLURAiIKaIX-a6r9v2oJxHoDz9KtRnVapOqMcJEnsnWn)\n(NASDAQ: USAR) has broken\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=d94Wr6GRQ-ZgVbt3zrrndjqza7vMn_EDk1IJTTBhFfsSMqifCEiN3HH-urx1bFC6o3prZbKYJn_VWELDvmj66A==)\nground on its new rare earth metal and magnet manufacturing facility in\nBlacksburg, South Carolina. The move marks a major step in the company’s\neffort to build a secure, integrated rare earth supply chain for the United\nStates and its allies. Located on a 124-acre site in Bailey Industrial Park in\nCherokee County, the approximately 800,000-square-foot facility represents an\napproximately $1.2 billion investment and is expected to create roughly 490\nhigh-skill, high-wage manufacturing jobs in South Carolina’s upstate.\n\nEnergy Fuels Inc.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=EPg6DwBwZtxJIvQlQ3ZyXdbJgqIvrWnQtHTVRxnbucm_wgt0webOzwJi95aXOAdn4sLZwC54FiNFMDf4fz3rMFUZXg4msKnG-HGURTFWu_fEfGJOFYXbFbQ_NcMUbfNo4kcqNiyr2NUTwFOSb3PGUxfj3rsMWR6klIQy2i4NAQ17NUjjSD3eGGW0mhvkAWlN)\n(NYSE American: UUUU) has completed\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=d2IC5gpBrzY6t6P69f8bUYqP4Od2Xv4LLILdWUvOjtBB06lTsJJTb_J_5Mg_VaYTWzqjFjmtyQR2X2cqc8cmwA==)\nits acquisition of Australian Strategic Materials Limited (“ASM”), a\nleading producer of REE metals and alloys. The acquisition of ASM marks a\nmajor milestone in Energy Fuels' long-term growth strategy to build an\nintegrated mine-to-magnet rare earth platform. By adding ASM's operating\nKorean Metals Plant in South Korea, Energy Fuels immediately gains commercial\nscale metal and alloy production capacity, expanding into one of the most\ncritical and constrained vulnerabilities of global rare earth supply chains.\n\nCritical Metals Corp.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=QevZWt0mgEenxfyLFFKEgYkyhS3fM3YXEqudeilbhTGgLGywIXRL2nyY_ZhTlsYogLS8hK3e1pQK55ltaUXCU1eKxmwTdYMegNvdqnwaUtsydIlEQ5lA7_NV8P_K-Iw0FazgUKqyY9H9qvpBfKX4XO4l5faLRLDXqgjDl0W-RKsJarUma537vDdtRqlvGYsZ)\n(NASDAQ: CRML) has been shortlisted\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=lSTTWZgXAHb8WMJOfRDMAgUGNZFveV30yfCT24UkbfSQe8s-liyF6rWXqTK1JF7B_bBAh77v2I0Gj0fP5tnczw==)\nto proceed to the next stage of the government of Kenya’s competitive tender\nprocess for the right to develop the Mrima Hill rare earth and niobium\nproject. The move is a powerful endorsement of the consortium’s financial\nstrength, world-class technical capability and vision of developing Mrima Hill\nand Kenya as a regional rare earth processing hub. Mrima Hill is widely\nregarded as one of the most significant undeveloped rare earth and niobium\ndeposits globally, positioned on Kenya’s southern coast with direct access\nto the Port of Mombasa.\n\nThese milestone moves reflect growing momentum toward building more resilient\nrare earth and critical-mineral supply chains outside traditional centers of\nproduction. As governments and industries seek reliable supplies of materials\nessential to defense, energy and advanced technologies, investment is\nexpanding across the value chain, from developing new mineral resources to\nestablishing processing and manufacturing capacity capable of turning those\nresources into high-value finished products.\n\nFor more information, visit Greenland Mines.\n\nAbout MiningNewsWire\n\nMiningNewsWire\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=OQa4qNJdMNTzcuY1-7-F5Yiqgu5nA2CyyIwtoum-ht462zh6YGeppFBpcB8wqX-jPbVKIp1Hw7Bywdnwtbmr8k1fbYQ0K5aT5HM9kJzzNTQ=) (“MNW”)\nis a specialized communications platform with a focus on developments and\nopportunities in the Global Mining and Resources sectors. It is one of 75+\nbrands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=IdUnp4tbmj4lTXlJhNWFeWUqe09XggczB2PWTixMWvczvhYcnPoPwEUtreu6WeSTj_HE4Ez-jRR3TJ_-DyV54wr3X7QsB3CeZex7Hb7BsIQ5tMW4H7pVix6vpFAI_-jnKcsuDvYryDi2ygHrR1fSIdyWxQbkN_UOegNw9JAWxpg=) @ IBN\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=GgSK7qpu76Uzk9c7BzdcycS7HGFpjH4Kq5j_tuv8UpPRTntSiSyBj3ZeWX3XK3xZqyO0NbmztFnjC8m-adIdapyNzRLmQqWGJmUnhNXRAMM=) that\ndelivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=N48a34e_mWqSQWo6gMXatct-30p6z9Kwa1kOK0ykZACntVkUIDn4fw5-TAnEWN97DFcoytGCiPDybFe0Wl1IrflyJ-dqrXO51Ej64KrplSE=) to\nefficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and\ndiverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=gfZrXMsjCVlICxPViPdT7_D2-ryPeAJeCCGXeGc5qhflrf279IISjMqGCC-BycnXOLb5S-ejJZV9jxOeCQPz8EvUTm9JTwayCFtw_B_Qfqb07rKk79xuq1GjxGFfDu6OnBX18dHZVbVLXOeBWVoCNDn99goOQJS4g1NnSwZYKieKvM6z0T3KvsfujOhDIONmAzTL8stmRWGoolMcqW_v9puprdQX4OCscKINtg6JCX8=); (3)\npress release enhancement\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=0gCVR_oCYCLXxnZuBLqM8If6sd72GEbozM7WzWbv03OtPp2csd0iUtuXzLOy06Rwi2xeHD17M_XzcRJUEcn8tX0HUaY5UEdgPhwRFSEdN4sofVTE3K8DeIKcM4Gprv-q2u5B7bSIS4SHvEktZ1Xi9YUWn9gM7psCPGXQ1FrcW_ybwPng0ZPFqOW0dcWAYxVZ) to\nensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=ohiliiYMkO-5VEXlFzbLLyGGmtGtnhD2TBrBto3Lk4wXZhT9wWal-A5bbH7mCEq8xJRks8gIZoznfENLA4xXURyYuODqFvwgCgU9cVns12Vj6i1XJqpbwM_fe0Ck2AFoziG5uL0soCWVz5XYF08KGw==) via\nIBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of\ntailored corporate communications solutions\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=Rke61UFkkia7eFktsBAPXTEjyEZXYg3Tfo-OoRMW-1wnJemFBS-68IFaFxHwZs09dvG8eAOwuQhMejiIssUPMU02Emu5k2YE0LWMXwI-2Ra5uXWMcwes8OT750A6lITKexkAuVXRZTohNUlMDnQoCw==).\nWith broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers,\nMNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that\nwant to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers,\njournalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of\ninformation in today’s market, MNW brings its clients unparalleled\nrecognition and brand awareness.\nMNW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information\nconverge.\n\nTo receive SMS alerts from MiningNewsWire, text “BigHole” to 888-902-4192\n(U.S. Mobile Phones Only)\n\nFor more information, please visit https://www.MiningNewsWire.com\nPlease see full terms of use and disclaimers on the MiningNewsWire website\napplicable to all content provided by MNW, wherever published or republished:\nhttps://www.MiningNewsWire.com/Disclaimer\n\nMiningNewsWire\nAustin, Texas\nwww.MiningNewsWire.com\n512.354.7000 Office\nEditor@MiningNewsWire.com\n\nMiningNewsWire is powered by IBN\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=mvLPu1FBqt1vRroaOX-QkArJ8YJuRXfaGikaD-4kaKVs1tpbEPs4FMkNqnKqtBHOdyyG1SJ_KOjqcRuET2DizAOGaVCGXn47INf04XiUEm4=)\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c6215404-aa77-48be-b347-27563f3d733a)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-09-22T12:30:00.732568278Z","server_sent_at_ms":1790080200732},"received_at":"2026-09-22T12:30:00.840Z","source_url":"https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/22/3366347/0/en/ree-critical-metals-demand-surging-as-western-nations-race-to-secure-alternatives.html"},"analysis":{"id":"138799","press_release_id":"149651","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Metals & Mining","sector":"Materials"},"redFlags":["sponsored/pay-to-play editorial content (MiningNewsWire/IBN promotional platform), not independent journalism","Kenya tender shortlisting is early-stage and non-binding; no contract awarded","Greenland license application not yet granted; no resource defined on the new acreage"],"eventType":"operations_update","narrative":"This MiningNewsWire editorial profiles the Western rare earth supply race, centered on Greenland Mines' (GRML) application to more than double its Sarfartoq footprint in West Greenland.\n\nCritical Metals Corp (CRML) appears in a sector roundup: it has been shortlisted to proceed to the next stage of Kenya's competitive tender for the Mrima Hill rare earth and niobium project.\n\nMrima Hill is described as one of the most significant undeveloped rare earth and niobium deposits globally, with coastal access to the Port of Mombasa; the shortlisting is a non-binding early-stage milestone.\n\nBroader context cites IEA data that magnet rare earth demand has doubled since 2015 and that China still controls roughly 60% of mining and 91% of refining, framing a tailwind for Western developers including CRML.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"CRML's Kenya Mrima Hill shortlisting is a modest positive but the release is paid editorial dominated by GRML -- low-signal."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"china_mined_share_2024":"60%","china_refined_share_2024":"91%","magnet_rare_earth_demand_growth":"doubled since 2015, +~1/3 by 2030"}},"namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Dr. Bo Møller Stensgaard","role":"President, Greenland Mines"},{"name":"Donald Trump","role":"U.S. President"},{"name":"Mette Frederiksen","role":"Danish Prime Minister"}],"products":["Sarfartoq Rare Earth Magnet District","ST1 deposit","Mrima Hill rare earth and niobium project","10X magnet manufacturing campus"],"companies":[{"name":"Critical Metals Corp.","ticker":"CRML","relationship":"filer; shortlisted in Kenya Mrima Hill tender"},{"name":"Greenland Mines Ltd.","ticker":"GRML","relationship":"primary subject of the editorial"},{"name":"MP Materials Corp.","ticker":"MP","relationship":"sector peer"},{"name":"USA Rare Earth Inc.","ticker":"USAR","relationship":"sector peer"},{"name":"Energy Fuels Inc.","ticker":"UUUU","relationship":"sector peer"},{"name":"Neo Performance Materials","relationship":"Greenland Mines strategic shareholder with offtake rights"},{"name":"Australian Strategic Materials Limited","relationship":"acquired by Energy Fuels"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$6.5 trillion","context":"annual downstream production outside China at risk under full October export controls (IEA estimate)"},{"amount":"$60 billion","context":"investment needed over next decade to close Western supply gaps"},{"amount":"$2.05 billion","context":"high-case pretax NPV of Greenland Mines ST1 Initial Assessment"},{"amount":"$1.49 billion","context":"high-case NPV excluding Inferred resources"},{"amount":"$1.2 billion","context":"USA Rare Earth South Carolina facility investment"}]},"materialImpact":{"score":2,"reasoning":"This is a MiningNewsWire sponsored editorial centered on Greenland Mines (GRML), with Critical Metals Corp (CRML) mentioned only in sector roundups. The CRML-specific news -- being shortlisted for Kenya's Mrima Hill tender -- is a positive but early-stage, non-binding milestone."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[{"ticker":"GRML","relevance":"primary subject of the sponsored editorial"},{"ticker":"MP","relevance":"sector peer"},{"ticker":"USAR","relevance":"sector peer"},{"ticker":"UUUU","relevance":"sector peer"}],"primary":"CRML"},"globalImportance":18,"audienceRelevance":25,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"sponsored sector editorial","issuerAuthored":false,"retailFavoriteBoost":"rare earth theme has retail interest"}},"event_type":"operations_update","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":2,"narrative":"This MiningNewsWire editorial profiles the Western rare earth supply race, centered on Greenland Mines' (GRML) application to more than double its Sarfartoq footprint in West Greenland.\n\nCritical Metals Corp (CRML) appears in a sector roundup: it has been shortlisted to proceed to the next stage of Kenya's competitive tender for the Mrima Hill rare earth and niobium project.\n\nMrima Hill is described as one of the most significant undeveloped rare earth and niobium deposits globally, with coastal access to the Port of Mombasa; the shortlisting is a non-binding early-stage milestone.\n\nBroader context cites IEA data that magnet rare earth demand has doubled since 2015 and that China still controls roughly 60% of mining and 91% of refining, framing a tailwind for Western developers including CRML.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"china_mined_share_2024":"60%","china_refined_share_2024":"91%","magnet_rare_earth_demand_growth":"doubled since 2015, +~1/3 by 2030"}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Dr. Bo Møller Stensgaard","role":"President, Greenland Mines"},{"name":"Donald Trump","role":"U.S. President"},{"name":"Mette Frederiksen","role":"Danish Prime Minister"}],"products":["Sarfartoq Rare Earth Magnet District","ST1 deposit","Mrima Hill rare earth and niobium project","10X magnet manufacturing campus"],"companies":[{"name":"Critical Metals Corp.","ticker":"CRML","relationship":"filer; shortlisted in Kenya Mrima Hill tender"},{"name":"Greenland Mines Ltd.","ticker":"GRML","relationship":"primary subject of the editorial"},{"name":"MP Materials Corp.","ticker":"MP","relationship":"sector peer"},{"name":"USA Rare Earth Inc.","ticker":"USAR","relationship":"sector peer"},{"name":"Energy Fuels Inc.","ticker":"UUUU","relationship":"sector peer"},{"name":"Neo Performance Materials","relationship":"Greenland Mines strategic shareholder with offtake rights"},{"name":"Australian Strategic Materials Limited","relationship":"acquired by Energy Fuels"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$6.5 trillion","context":"annual downstream production outside China at risk under full October export controls (IEA estimate)"},{"amount":"$60 billion","context":"investment needed over next decade to close Western supply gaps"},{"amount":"$2.05 billion","context":"high-case pretax NPV of Greenland Mines ST1 Initial Assessment"},{"amount":"$1.49 billion","context":"high-case NPV excluding Inferred resources"},{"amount":"$1.2 billion","context":"USA Rare Earth South Carolina facility investment"}]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flashx","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-09-22T17:09:17.689Z","global_importance":18,"audience_relevance":25,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"sponsored sector editorial","issuerAuthored":false,"retailFavoriteBoost":"rare earth theme has retail interest"}},"durationMs":11097,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flash"}}