Company profile
Aclara Resources: what it does, projects, funding and status (2026)
Processing / manufacturing (planned) TSX: ARA
Aclara Resources (TSX: ARA), headquartered in Toronto, is a heavy rare earth developer that plans a $277M separation facility at the Port of Vinton, Louisiana, to process ionic-clay concentrate from its projects in Brazil and Chile. Ramón Barúa is chief executive, and EXIM issued a non-binding letter of interest for up to $750M on Sept 4, 2026.
Verified through Oct 1, 2026
Status and timeline Report a correction All US rare earth companies
What does Aclara Resources do?
Aclara Resources develops ionic-clay heavy rare earth deposits in Brazil and Chile and plans a separation plant in Louisiana to turn their carbonate output into separated oxides. It works at the mining and separation steps and has no production yet.
Ionic clay deposits are rich in heavy rare earths such as dysprosium and terbium and can be leached at low cost, which is why Aclara pursues them. It spun out of Hochschild Mining in 2021 and lists on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The Louisiana facility is meant to be the first US plant to separate heavy rare earths, making high-purity dysprosium, terbium and NdPr oxides, with samarium, gadolinium and yttrium also in the EXIM scope. A metals and alloys plant is planned, and Aclara says the dysprosium and terbium output could supply more than 75% of US needs for those elements in electric vehicles.
Which assets and facilities does Aclara Resources hold?
Aclara holds the Carina project in Brazil and the Penco Module in Chile, both ionic-clay deposits, and plans the Port of Vinton separation facility on an 82-acre site in Louisiana. Only the Louisiana plant is in the US.
| Asset | Location | What it does | Size or output | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port of Vinton separation facility | Vinton, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana (82 acres) | Separates mixed carbonate into Dy, Tb, NdPr and other oxides; metals and alloys planned | $277M; about 140 direct jobs (state announcement) | Planned; ITEP tax exemption approved Jun 2026; completion targeted end of 2027 |
| Carina project | Brazil | Ionic-clay heavy rare earth mine | Feeds super-pure carbonate to Louisiana | Development |
| Penco Module | Chile | Ionic-clay heavy rare earth mine | Feeds super-pure carbonate to Louisiana | Development |
Both mines are outside the US, so Aclara is a US processing plan with foreign feedstock. Feed from Brazil and Chile is expected from about mid-2028 (this directory's research).
Who partners with Aclara Resources and what incentives has it received?
Aclara has Virginia Tech validating its pilot work, Hatch as engineering partner and VAC named as a partner, plus a Louisiana incentive package of $46.4M and a final tax exemption approval worth more than $20M. EXIM has issued a non-binding letter of interest for up to $750M.
The state package announced in Oct 2025 includes an 80% property tax exemption for 10 years, High Impact Jobs Program grants, infrastructure support and workforce training. In Jun 2026 the state granted final approval under the Industrial Tax Exemption Program, valued at over $20M.
Major shareholders have included Hochschild Mining and entities controlled by Eduardo Hochschild, which held 20% and 30.7% after the 2021 demerger, and a 2025 placement brought in New Hartsdale Capital and CAP S.A.
What is the timeline of Aclara Resources?
Aclara listed on the TSX in Dec 2021, announced the $277M Louisiana plan in Oct 2025, won a final state tax exemption in Jun 2026 and received an EXIM letter of interest on Sept 4, 2026. It aims to be construction-ready by the end of 2026 and finish the plant by the end of 2027.
- Dec 2021
Aclara demerges from Hochschild Mining and lists on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
- Oct 2025
Aclara announces a $277M heavy rare earth separation facility at the Port of Vinton, Louisiana, with a $46.4M state incentive package.
- Jun 2026
Louisiana grants final Industrial Tax Exemption Program approval worth over $20M.
- Sept 4, 2026
EXIM issues a letter of interest for up to $750M for Project Dynamo.
Next milestones
- End of 2026
The project is expected to be construction-ready.
- End of 2027
Completion of the Louisiana facility is targeted.
- Mid-2028
Feed from Brazil and Chile is expected to start (this directory's research).
What government support has Aclara Resources received?
Aclara holds a non-binding EXIM letter of interest dated Sept 4, 2026 for financing of up to $750M with a tenor of up to 15 years under EXIM's Make More in America initiative. Louisiana adds a $46.4M incentive package. No federal loan has closed.
| Agency and instrument | Amount | When | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXIM (Make More in America)Letter of interest: financing for separation, metals and alloys. Subject to due diligence, underwriting and authorization; tenor up to 15 years | Up to $750M | Sept 4, 2026 | Non-binding |
| State of LouisianaIncentive package including 80% property tax exemption for 10 years. State, not federal, support; final ITEP approval Jun 2026 | $46.4M | Oct 2025 | Closed |
A letter of interest is a preliminary indication, not a loan approval. See the government support tracker.
What are the risks and unknowns for Aclara Resources?
The main unknowns are whether EXIM converts the letter into a loan, whether the Brazil and Chile mines deliver feed on time and who will buy the oxides. The plant is planned and not yet under construction. This directory reports facts and gives no investment view.
- Financing: the EXIM letter is non-binding and subject to due diligence, underwriting and authorization.
- Feedstock abroad: the plant depends on mines in Brazil and Chile that are still in development.
- Schedule: completion is targeted for end of 2027, with feed expected from about mid-2028.
- Capital: the $277M plant is smaller than the up-to-$750M EXIM scope, which covers separation, metals and alloys.
- Offtake: the sources checked name VAC as a partner but give no volume contract.
Questions about Aclara Resources
Is Aclara Resources a public company?
Yes. Aclara Resources trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker ARA. This directory shows tickers as facts and gives no investment advice.
Where is Aclara Resources based?
Aclara is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Its planned separation facility is at the Port of Vinton in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, and its mines are in Brazil and Chile.
What is Aclara building in Louisiana?
A $277M facility at the Port of Vinton on an 82-acre site to separate mixed rare earth carbonate into high-purity dysprosium, terbium and NdPr oxides, with a metals and alloys plant planned.
Has EXIM approved a loan for Aclara?
No. EXIM issued a non-binding letter of interest on Sept 4, 2026 for up to $750M over up to 15 years. It is a preliminary indication subject to due diligence, underwriting and authorization.
Does Aclara mine in the United States?
No. Aclara's ionic-clay mines are in Brazil and Chile. Its US role is the Louisiana separation plant, which would process their carbonate.
When will the Aclara Louisiana plant open?
Aclara targets completion by the end of 2027 and says it should be construction-ready by the end of 2026. Feed from Brazil and Chile is expected from about mid-2028.
Sources and verification
Each profile lists its sources, a confidence grade and a verification date. Order of authority: official records (SEC filings, agency documents), company documents and technical reports, research papers, then independent press. Syndicated copies and reference works are labeled and are never the only source for a number. Company-reported figures are labeled as such, and non-binding deals are labeled "letter of intent" or "conditional".
- OSTI review, Minerals Engineering 249 (Kashyap et al., 2026) Research paper
- Aclara: EXIM letter of interest for up to $750M (Sept 2026) Syndicated copy
- Opportunity Louisiana: Aclara invests $277M in Southwest Louisiana Official record
- BIC Magazine: Aclara to build first US heavy rare earths separation Independent press
- Mining Weekly: Aclara secures over $20M of property tax exemptions (Jun 2026) Independent press
- Mining Weekly: Hochschild spin-off Aclara to start trading (Dec 2021) Independent press
- Global Mining Review: Hochschild to propose demerger and listing of Aclara (2021) Independent press
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