This is probably what is behind it...he is going there to sell his rattlesnake factories:
ElementUSA (Gramercy): An $850 million investment to refine gallium, scandium, and iron from bauxite residue, with a demonstration plant starting in 2027.
Aclara Resources (Vinton): Building the first U.S. heavy rare earths (Dy, Tb) separation facility for EV magnets, potentially meeting significant domestic demand.
Element25 (Burnside): Developing the nation's first HPMSM (battery component) refinery, importing manganese concentrate.
Ucore (Alexandria): Processing rare earth metals like neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr).
LSU Research: Studying lithium extraction from underground brines in oil fields.
Why Louisiana?
Industrial Byproducts: Abundant bauxite residue from alumina refining provides a rich source for valuable metals.
Strategic Location: Access to ports, waterways (Gulf Intracoastal Waterway), and existing chemical infrastructure.
Government Support: Federal grants (DOE, Dept. of War) and state incentives (LED FastStart) are driving investment.
Critical Minerals in Focus:
Gallium & Scandium: From bauxite waste (ElementUSA).
Heavy Rare Earths (HREEs): Dysprosium (Dy), Terbium (Tb) for magnets (Aclara).
Manganese: High-purity manganese sulfate for batteries (Element25).
Lithium: From underground brines.
These projects aim to create high-tech jobs and reduce U.S. reliance on foreign sources for these vital materials.
ElementUSA Building $850M Rare Earth, Critical Minerals Refining ...
Dec 16, 2025 โ ElementUSA Building $850M Rare Earth, Critical Minerals Refining Facility in Louisiana * ElementUSA announced an $850 million investment to build a ...
Manufacturing.net
Aclara to build first U.S. heavy rare earths separation facility ...
Oct 23, 2025 โ In a move set to reshape the North American critical minerals industry, Aclara Resources Inc. announced plans to build the first heavy rare earths (
BIC Magazine
Louisiana becoming a hotbed of critical materials production
Aug 17, 2025 โ The Energy Department's 2024 grant to Element25 for $166.1 million supports construction of the company's refining facility in Burnside, which will ...
New Orleans CityBusiness
ElementUSA Louisiana Critical Minerals Facility
Dec 22, 2025 โ ElementUSA's Louisiana project is designed to support the domestic supply of critical minerals, including gallium, scandium, iron, and other materia...
SkilledTrades.com
ElementUSA Plans Louisiana Refinery to Recover Critical ...
Dec 16, 2025 โ ElementUSA Plans Louisiana Refinery to Recover Critical Minerals. Reviewed by Audrey Altmann on 12/17/2025. Written by Andy Szal on 12/17/2025. 1 mi...
Thomasnet
An $850M rare earth minerals refining facility is planned for St. ...
Dec 14, 2025 โ James Parish. ... ElementUSA will invest $850 million to build a rare earth and critical minerals refining facility in St. James Parish, a project a...
10/12 Industry Report
Louisiana becoming a hotbed of critical materials production
Aug 15, 2025 โ Louisiana is becoming a hub for processing critical minerals, rare earths, and electrolyte salts used to produce lithium-ion batteries. There are se...
The Center Square
Department of War Awards $29.9 Million to Create a U.S. Domestic Supply of Gallium and Scandium
Nov 19, 2025 โ ElementUSA has received a $29.9 million award from the Department of War to develop a demonstration facility in Gramercy, Louisiana. The facility wi...
U.S. Department of War (.gov)
1:52
Element USA to invest $850M in Louisiana critical minerals ...
Yahoo FinanceยทBryanna Moore