DTEC Mineral to Invest $600 Million in Malaysian Refineries

DTEC Mineral and Metal Technology, a US-majority-owned startup, plans to invest $600 million to establish two rare-earth refineries in Malaysia over the next three years. The company intends to build one facility on the east coast and another on the west coast, targeting a combined annual processing capacity of 10,000 metric tonnes.

The project focuses on processing ionic clay deposits to diminish China's dominance in the rare-earth sector. As part of this initiative, DTEC Mineral became the first company authorized under eased Malaysian export rules to ship unprocessed rare-earth material to the United States for research purposes.

This development follows a trade and critical minerals pact signed by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The agreement makes DTEC Mineral eligible for funding from the US Department of Defense, the US International Development Finance Corporation, and the US Export-Import Bank.