5N Plus Secures US$18.1M U.S. Award to Scale Germanium Recycling in Utah

A Canadian specialty‑materials firm, 5N Plus Inc., has been awarded US$18.1 million by the U.S. government to expand germanium recycling and refining at its St. George, Utah facility. The grant underwrites a staged, 48‑month build‑out aimed at converting industrial residues and mining by‑products into refined, high‑purity germanium. If the program reaches its objectives, the plant could ultimately process roughly 20 metric tons per year of high‑purity germanium — material critical to infrared optics, electro‑optical/infrared systems and solar cells used on satellites and other mission‑critical platforms. The award explicitly aligns with U.S. policy goals to onshore strategic‑mineral capacity and shorten supply chains for defense and space procurement. That policy environment has increasingly favored projects with verifiable geology, auditable feedstock streams and demonstrable metallurgy, meaning successful verification at St. George could unlock follow‑on contracts, demonstration programs or cooperative industry‑lab support. Key implementation risks remain technical: metallurgical yields from secondary streams, consistent feedstock supply, commissioning timelines and workforce expansion. The grant reduces immediate capital barriers but does not necessarily cover full commercial‑scale costs or guarantee offtake, so supplementary financing or procurement agreements may still be required. Market implications include a potential tightening of domestic lead times for refined germanium and a partial re‑rating of supply security for U.S. customers. The project also serves as a test case for circular‑materials approaches in critical minerals: demonstrating high yields from secondary sources would strengthen the case for similar brownfield and recycling investments. Conversely, slower-than‑expected commissioning, lower recovery rates or feedstock shortfalls would delay strategic benefits and could sustain reliance on established external refiners. Stakeholders should monitor assay and metallurgical validation, feedstock contracts, milestone‑based funding releases and any follow‑on procurement commitments as primary indicators of project success.