Amid intensifying global moves to weaponize critical minerals, Korea has launched a K-Plant initiative to reshape the rare earth supply chain monopolized by China. The plan is to design beneficiation and refining processes for heavy rare earths by 2030 and secure the related core equipment technologies.
The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) announced this national strategic technology research vision at the "2026 KIGAM Media Day" held Wednesday at its headquarters in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon.
KIGAM launched a five-year K-Plant core equipment development project this year to internalize early-stage process technologies for rare earth beneficiation and refining — including decomposition, leaching, separation and purification — areas that heavily depend on overseas sources.
The project focuses on developing processes and equipment to separate and concentrate only neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr) and dysprosium (Dy) — three elements essential for permanent magnet manufacturing among the 17 elements designated as rare earths — from ores to produce high-purity rare earth compounds. To this end, KIGAM is building cooperation systems with foreign and domestic companies. The plan is to procure raw materials from Malaysia and the Philippines, which have rare earth resources but lack technological capabilities, and to jointly develop technologies with Korea Zinc and POSCO Holdings (005490.KS) to lead the effort through to commercialization.
Specifically, KIGAM plans to divide functions into three major plants — beneficiation, decomposition and leaching, and separation and purification — and to complete related technology development and demonstration while operating the core equipment. "We will build a pilot facility by 2030 to produce 60 tons of rare earths annually," KIGAM said.
The project aims to counter China's monopoly on early-stage rare earth mineral processing technologies. "In the past, China took over rare earth refining from the United States due to 'economics,' including lower labor and environmental compliance costs. The reason China's dominance cannot be stopped now is the 'technology' gap that has widened as decades of industrial experience have accumulated," said Jung Kyung-woo, head of the Resource Utilization Research Division.
Jung added, "Starting this year, we will expand our research into the 'heavy rare earth' recovery area based on ion-adsorption ores, which China monopolizes, to catch up with Chinese technology." He explained, "We will leverage the capabilities KIGAM has accumulated over the past 20 years by developing beneficiation and refining technologies centered on 'light rare earth' recovery."
In addition, KIGAM plans to develop low-carbon rare earth recycling technology that excludes the use of strong acids. The institute aims to complete a sustainable circular refining process by introducing eco-friendly solvents to address the environmental pollution caused by traditional hydrometallurgical refining.
