Nordique Critical Metals reported leaching efficiencies exceeding 95% for neodymium, dysprosium and yttrium in bench-scale tests of concentrate from its Kwyjibo Rare Earth project in Québec. The work by L3 Process Development and SMH Process Innovation supports a revised hydrometallurgical flowsheet that removes several stages from the company’s 2026 Preliminary Economic Assessment design. The simpler plant could require less equipment, energy, infrastructure and operating expenditure, although those benefits remain subject to testing and engineering confirmation. The 2026 PEA assumed about 75% overall rare-earth recovery and reported an after-tax net present value of $1.40 billion, an after-tax internal rate of return of 35.4% and a two-year payback period. L3 and SMH are assessing whether recovery could exceed 80%, but that preliminary objective is excluded from the PEA economics. A continuous demonstration plant using about 400 kilograms of nonmagnetic concentrate is targeted for Q1 2027.