The engineering and construction company Técnicas Reunidas has reached a technological "milestone" by successfully producing its first kilograms of Neodymium/Praseodymium (Nd/Pr) oxide with commercial specifications. This achievement represents an "important technological advance" in the strategic rare earths market.

Nd/Pr oxide is a "critical" component with high demand for the manufacturing of permanent magnets, essential for electric vehicle motors and wind turbines. Its production directly contributes to the decarbonization goals of the European Union.

This technological advancement is linked to the Jaén province through the recent signing of two service and engineering contracts. These agreements integrate Técnicas Reunidas' proprietary technology into rare earth mining projects developed by Australian companies such as Osmond Resources in Jaén and St George Mining in Brazil.

The patented technology, named 'Raretech', has been designed to "revolutionize" the separation and purification processes of these elements. Production has taken place at the company's pilot plant at its technology center in Madrid.

Técnicas Reunidas has stated that the production of this component with commercial purity demonstrates the technical viability of its technology and provides a "tangible solution" to the European Union's roadmap for achieving autonomy in the supply of critical raw materials.

This achievement is part of the European project 'PERmanent MAgnet Network for the European Transition' (Permanet), led by the Spanish company. The objective of Permanet is to develop a European value chain for permanent magnets, crucial for the energy and digital transition.

Javier Limpo, corporate director of the proprietary technology development division at Técnicas Reunidas, highlighted that these advances "very significantly reinforce the firm's strategic commitment to the sustainable mining sector and rare earths".

The Permanet project, funded by the EU's 'Horizon Europe' program, aims to establish the first complete European value chain for permanent magnet production, covering everything from the extraction and refining of rare earths to the manufacturing of magnets.

The initiative involves 34 leading European partners, including large companies, SMEs, research centers, universities, and clusters from eleven different countries.