The MOU outlines a strategic collaboration to jointly investigate developing and deploying a vertically integrated critical mineral supply chain solution, combining Impossible Metals’ proprietary nodule collection technology with ReElement’s innovative and industry-leading critical mineral refining platform to create a globally competitive, sustainable, and independent rare earth supply chain in the United States.
Key highlights of the MOU include:
- Focus on essential elements: Copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and rare earth elements.
- Joint commitment to explore a sustainable, non-China critical mineral supply chain to meet growing global demand.
- Toll-processing framework: ReElement to refine deep-sea nodules and deliver separated minerals to Impossible Metals’ customers.
- Strategic collaboration to enhance and secure the global critical mineral value chain and identify further joint opportunities.
- Integration of ReElement’s platform, delivering high-throughput, low-waste, cost-effective refining of ultra-pure critical minerals.
- End-to-end US supply chain: From seabed mining in federal waters near American Samoa to refining operations in Indiana.
The MOU follows President Trump’s April 2025 Executive Order, Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources, which underscores the urgency of domestic collaboration across the exploration, harvesting, processing, and environmental stewardship of seabed mineral resources.
Impossible Metals has played a direct role in shaping global policy on responsible seabed mining. At the regulatory level, Impossible Metals successfully requested the Department of the Interior to initiate permitting for deep-sea minerals in US federal waters and has personally updated members of the US Congress on the importance of this unique feedstock.
On the technical front, Impossible Metals is preparing to deploy Eureka III in 2026—the commercial embodiment of its autonomous underwater collection platform. The system is capable of selectively collecting polymetallic nodules without disturbing visible life and builds on years of successful prototype development and in-ocean trials.
Mark Jensen, CEO and Chairman of ReElement, commented, “I have known Oliver for over 4 years now, and the scientific and technical progress he and his team have made is extremely impressive. We’re excited to bring ReElement’s advanced refining capabilities to this important mission and serve as the toll processor for materials essential to America’s energy and defense security.”
Oliver Gunasekara, CEO and Co-Founder of Impossible Metals, added, “We’re thrilled to begin our collaboration with ReElement. Both of our teams share a clear vision for establishing an efficient, scalable, and 100% US mining-to-processing supply chain for the critical materials necessary for defense and advanced industrial purposes.”
The agreement marks another key milestone in the journey to deliver US-processed, high-purity rare earth products to the global value chain and reinforces both companies’ commitment to building a resilient, environmentally sound, and sustainable supply network.