Molycorp.Inc. (fka MCPIQ)

[~ Blue ~]

MCP ~huge news!~ 10 YEARS CONTRACT WITH SIEMENS~

Molycorp Chosen to Supply Rare Earths for Use in High-Efficiency Siemens Wind Turbine Generators


Globe Newswire
April 15, 2015: 07:00 AM ET

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., April 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Siemens AG ("Siemens") has selected Molycorp, Inc. (NYSE:MCP) ("Molycorp") to supply rare earth materials over the next 10 years from its Mountain Pass, California facility for incorporation into Siemens' high-efficiency, direct drive wind turbine generators. Molycorp will supply rare earth materials to Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. ("Shin-Etsu"), which will produce the rare earth magnets Siemens intends to utilize in its wind turbines.

Siemens officials noted that key factors in choosing Molycorp were Molycorp's ability to provide greater global diversification and reliability to its supply chain, as well as the environmental and process innovations Molycorp has built into its Mountain Pass rare earth facility. Among those innovations are the facility's ability to recycle water, regenerate the chemical reagents needed in rare earth production, generate power from a high-efficiency natural gas cogeneration power plant, and dispose of mine tailings through an innovative paste tailings system.

Siemens officials said that the magnets to be used in its direct drive wind turbines will contain reduced levels of heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), such as dysprosium. In collaboration with Siemens Wind Power, Molycorp and Shin-Etsu will improve the magnet material to reach zero HREEs, Siemens said. At the same time, Siemens added, supply chain reliability will be increased and costs will be reduced.

"The contract with Shin-Etsu and Molycorp is an important step for us in sourcing magnet materials for our direct drive wind turbines," said Morten Rasmussen, Head of Technology at Siemens Wind Power and Renewables Division. "We strive for diversification in the sourcing of these components to improve independency from specific markets."

"We are very pleased to have been selected to supply Siemens and Shin-Etsu with rare earth magnetic materials for this important clean energy supply chain project," said Geoff Bedford, Molycorp's President and Chief Executive Officer. "This agreement underscores Molycorp's commitment to partner with our customers to support their product development efforts and serve as an integrated, long-term provider of reliable rare earth supply."

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/globenewswire/10128853.htm
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SIEMENS NEWS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE:

Large wind turbines require 2 TONS of rare earth magnets
.
Rare earth magnets are used in wind turbines. Some large turbines require two TONS of rare earth magnets. These magnets are very strong and make the turbines highly efficient. Rare earth magnets are used in turbines and generators in many alternative energy applications.

http://geology.com/articles/rare-earth-elements/
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A 3 megawatt turbine uses roughly 1 metric ton of rare earths.

http://www.molycorp.com/products/rare-earths-many-uses/clean-energy/
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Rare earth prices rise on market recovery

BY Marino Donati
13.04.2015

The cost of rare earth elements is continuing to rise indicating the market is recovering from recent falls, according to the MTL Index.

The investment specialist said its price index rose by 8.3 per cent in February compared with the previous month. This was on top of an increase of 4.3 per cent experienced in January. MTL Index said this indicated the market was on the way to recovery. The company said illegal mining and over-zealous stockpiling had caused significant price falls in recent years.

The price of some rare earths have increased more than others, including Terbium up by 47 per cent in the last two months. Dysprosium has also seen an increase of more than 20 per cent this year. Overall, the MTL price index for rare earths has progressed by 8.3 per cent over the month.

Industrial recovery in the United States is an important factor boosting the market, together with countries – especially China – that have a big investment in the renewable energy sector, which is a large consumer of strategic metals.

The rise of 3D printing is also boosting the market, as industries that use the technology, including the medical, aerospace and automotive sectors, traditionally consume high-tech metals.

Chinese exports of light rare earths fell sharply, down 64 per cent year on year.

The production of rare earths outside China, consisting mainly of light rare earths such as lanthanum and cerium, has sharply increased. Exports of medium and heavy rare earths have increased by 324 per cent now that quotas no longer exist, the MTL index says.

The value of exports increased by 11 per cent for light rare earths, and by 332 per cent for medium and heavy rare earths.

http://www.supplymanagement.com/news/2015/rare-earth-prices-rise-on-market-recovery#sthash.whQOa9mq.dpuf