REG-Pensana Plc: Partnership with Vacuumschmelze GmbH to establish mine-to-magnet supply chain in the US

PensanaAnnouncement

22/10/2025 07:02

22 October 2025

 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION

 

Pensana Plc

("Pensana" or the "Company")

 

Partnership with Vacuumschmelze GmbH to establish

mine-to-magnet supply chain in the US

 

Pensana Plc is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding (“MOU”) with Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co. KG (“VAC”), a
leading manufacturer of advanced magnetic solutions, rare-earth permanent
magnets, and inductive components.

 

Through its recently commissioned eVAC Magnetics facility in Sumter, South
Carolina (“eVAC”), VAC is playing a key role in bolstering domestic
rare-earth magnet production in the United States, an effort crucial to
America’s national and economic security interests.

 

Key terms of the MOU include:

 
*            A proposed offtake of products from Longonjo including the clean
Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (“MREC”) to meet the deadline of the defense
restrictions on rare-earth imports from China in 2027.                      
  The proposed offtake would be for an initial five-year period, subject to
extension and with pricing to be agreed.
 
*            The agreement will support the production by eVAC of 2,000 tonnes
per annum of rare earth magnets initially rising to 12,000 tonnes per annum by
2029.
 
*            Strategic co-operation to strengthen and secure the global rare
earth value chain and explore additional joint opportunities           .
 

 

Troy Thacker, Executive Chairman of eVAC commented                    :       
              “A new partnership between VAC and                            
                                  Pensana                                   
                           is a leap forward in the fight to strengthen and
diversify the Western supply chain for rare-earth minerals, and we are
grateful for the Trump Administration’s and the U.S. International
Development Finance Corporation’s unwavering support and partnership in this
effort.

 

This agreement not only reflects VAC's commitment to building a complete
mine-to-magnet supply chain that will meet the growing demands for rare-earth
materials but also illustrates how we will do so in a way that bolsters
America's national and economic security."

 

 

Paul Atherley, Chairman, Pensana commented:                               
“We are delighted to be able to work with the eVAC team to establish a major
mine to magnet supply chain in the US. The Longonjo mine is one of the
world’s largest undeveloped rare earth mines and Vacuumschmelze is a global
leader in rare earth permanent magnets.                                

 

The Longonjo mine is financed, in construction and scheduled for the
commencement of production in early 2027 with a 20 year mine life. We are
looking at accelerating this production timeline to late 2026 and have
committed to a major exploration programme to expand the resource inventory to
meet the future demand for electric vehicle, automation and humanoid
robots.”

 

 

 

 

About Vacuumschmelze

Vacuumschmelze is a leading global producer of advanced magnetic solutions,
rare earth permanent magnets, and inductive components that are crucial for
the decarbonization of our planet.

 

With more than 100 years of application know how and experience in material
science and product development, VAC designs and manufactures mission critical
solutions for a wide variety of industries, including renewable energy,
e-mobility, automotive, industrial automation, medical and aerospace.

 

VAC's unique ability to develop and manufacture from base elements through
final products enables us to provide customers optimal form factors and
performance, generating best in class efficient solutions in an
environmentally conscious manner.

 

eVAC is developing a state-of-the-art rare earth neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB)
permanent magnet production facility in Sumter, South Carolina. The eVAC
facility and VAC’s decades of experience in rare earth magnet technology and
process intellectual property is a critical piece to ensuring North American
domestic supply continuity.

 

More information at www.vacuumschmelze.com

 

About Pensana

 

Pensana is focused on developing a mine-to-magnet rare earth supply chain to
support the growth of industries including robotics, artificial intelligence,
electrification, advanced manufacturing and humanoid robots. Through strategic
partnerships and investment, the Company aims to provide the critical mineral
resources required by the United States and its allies to underpin industrial
growth.

 

Pensana has financed and is constructing one of the world’s largest rare
earth mines in the Huambo district of Angola approximately 350 kilometres
Southeast of the capital Luanda.

 

The US$217 million mine will produce 20,000 tonnes of a highly marketable
clean mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) from early 2027. The proposed second
phase expansion will see production increase to 40,000 tonnes of MREC per
annum which would represent around 5% of the world’s production (based on
current reported global production).

 

The investment by Pensana in Longonjo is expected to generate hundreds of
local high value jobs, give work to many local businesses and, once in
production, will generate substantial fiscal returns for the Government of
Angola.

 

The downstream development of the mine and processing facilities to a high
value mixed rare earth carbonate goes well beyond the conventional dig and
ship approach to mining in Africa, adding considerable value in country.

 

The Company is committed to developing the Longonjo mine to the very best
international standards with the highest level of community engagement and has
published a blueprint for sustainable rare earth development which is
available on our website.                     
Pensana_Blueprint_for_Sustainable_Rare_Earths.pdf          
(https://pensana.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Pensana_Blueprint_for_Sustainable_Rare_Earths.pdf)

 

The team’s efforts were recognised in 2022 when Pensana received green bond
assurance by S&P Green Bond Rating Agency CICERO and more recently were
awarded a Gold Medal by EcoVadis, a leading sustainability ratings provider,
placing it among the top 5% of the companies assessed.
The information contained within this announcement is considered by the
Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse
Regulations (EU) No.596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement via a
Regulatory Information Service, this inside information will be               
    considered                    to                    be                   
in                    the                    public                    domain.
                   The                    person                   
responsible                    for                    arranging               
    for                    the                    release                   
of                    this announcement on behalf of the Company is Paul
Atherley (Chairman).
-                               ENDS-

 

For                                                              further      
                                                       information,           
                                                  please                      
                                       contact:

Shareholder/analyst                                                           
  enquiries:

Pensana                                                              Plc

Paul Atherley, Chairman

IR@pensana.co.uk

Tim George, Chief Executive Officer

Rob                    Kaplan,                    Chief                   
Financial                    Officer

 

 

 



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