The owner of the only US rare earths mine is going on a hiring spree as it looks to significantly boost production, part of a strategy to build out American refining capability after China raised tariffs on the minerals amid an escalating trade war.
By next year, MP Materials aims to be the first US company to refine rare earths since 2015 when Molycorp, the former owner of California’s Mountain Pass mine, went bankrupt, executives said.