U.S. Army Eyes 75-Year Rare Earth Lease to Counter China

The U.S. Army is pursuing a proposed long-term arrangement with REalloys that could place American-produced heavy rare earths closer to the military supply chain. REalloys has signed a nonbinding term sheet with the Army tied to a potential processing facility at Tooele Army Depot in Utah. The proposed deal would cover approximately 200 acres at the Army site, where REalloys would build and operate a facility processing dysprosium and terbium. Those two metals are central to a rare earth market that China has spent decades dominating. Under the term sheet, the Army would receive a right of first offer on…