Upon fulfilling its funding commitments, JOGMEC holds an option to acquire a 30% interest in one of Aclara’s Brazilian exploration projects. The Japanese agency can accelerate its financial obligations at its sole discretion. Following completion of the earn-in phase, both partners will contribute to project funding proportionally according to their respective ownership stakes. The deal includes a provision granting JOGMEC the right to purchase production equivalent to its equity interest plus an additional 10% of future project output at market commercial terms designed to support long-term financing and development. JOGMEC may also assign its interest and related rights to one or more Japanese companies or consortia in accordance with joint venture terms.
Aclara will act as operator during the earn-in period, leveraging its proprietary Circular Mineral Harvesting technology developed for ionic clay deposits in South America. The process extracts rare earths from soft clay near surface without blasting, crushing or grinding, using common fertilizer as a lixiviant and recycling over 95% of water and 99% of reagents. The company validated the technology at a pilot plant inaugurated in Brazil in 2025, producing rare earth carbonate at 99% purity in July 2026 from its Carina Project in Goiás state.
JOGMEC’s entry follows extensive technical review of Aclara’s exploration portfolio, providing independent validation of asset quality and potential, according to CEO Ramón Barúa. The arrangement creates a natural pathway to future Japanese offtake agreements through JOGMEC’s preferential purchase rights, aligning exploration success with strategic end markets. The agency’s multidisciplinary teams of geologists, engineers and technical specialists bring decades of global experience evaluating prospective mineral districts and applying rigorous technical standards to advance projects contributing to secure, resilient and diversified supply of strategic minerals required for advanced manufacturing, clean energy technologies and national economic security.
Brazil currently ranks second globally in rare earth reserves with approximately 21 million metric tons compared to China’s 44 million, according to USGS data. The country has seen 2,727 active rare earth exploration applications lodged with the National Mining Agency, with 42% originating from foreign-controlled subsidiaries or companies with foreign participation and 86% filed within the past three years.
This article was curated and published as part of our South American energy market coverage.
