Ramaco Breaks Ground on Pilot Processing Plant and Lab to Advance Rare Earth and Critical Mineral Development

Ramaco Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: METC, METCB) ("Ramaco" or the "Company") Ramaco is proud to announce that initial mobilization and site development activities have commenced for its new pilot processing plant and laboratory, located adjacent to the Brook Mine and near the iCAM Research Center outside Sheridan, Wyoming. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the company's strategic initiative to establish a vertically integrated, U.S.-based supply chain for rare earth elements (REEs) and other critical minerals.

The facility is designed to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of converting domestic carbonaceous ore into high-purity individual rare earth oxides (IREOs), which are essential for U.S. magnet production and other advanced technologies. The pilot plant is intended to serve as a bridge to full-scale commercialization, with plans already underway for a commercial oxide processing facility.

Ramaco had earlier announced a $6.1 million matching grant from the Wyoming Energy Authority's Energy Matching Fund to support the development of the pilot facility. This grant is part of a state initiative to promote energy innovation and economic development. The company has successfully cleared all necessary zoning and environmental permits for the establishment of the pilot processing plant and laboratory on the site.

The pilot facility is expected to focus on processing both rare earths and critical materials recently restricted from export by China underscoring the strategic importance of domestic production. Analyses performed to date indicate that the Brook Mine deposit, located along the northwestern margin of the Powder River Basin, is geologically unique and enriched with rare earths through secondary mobilization, making it one of the most promising potential sources for rare earths in the United States.

Randall W. Atkins, Chairman and CEO of Ramaco Resources stated "We believe this groundbreaking marks the beginning of a new chapter in American rare earth minerals. Our goal is to build the foundation for a secure, domestic supply of rare earths and critical minerals and ensure that the U.S. remains competitive in the technologies that define our future."

On July 11, 2025, Ramaco hosted a landmark ribbon-cutting and groundbreaking ceremony marking the official opening of the Brook Mine—the first new rare earth mine in the United States in over 70 years and the first new coal mine in Wyoming in more than 50 years. The event, themed "American Independence: A Rare Earth Revolution," celebrated the beginning of mining operations. Attended by dignitaries including U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Governor Mark Gordon, Senator John Barrasso, Senator Cynthia Lummis and Representative Harriet Hageman, the ceremony highlighted Ramaco's strategic role in advancing domestic critical mineral production.

Ramaco continues to advance mining and geological work, including infill and expansion drilling, to refine its resource classification and support future mine planning and processing capabilities.

Ramaco Resources | https://www.ramacoresources.com