Pensana plans to transport Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate from its Longonjo mine in Angola by rail to the Port of Lobito as the company seeks to supply rare earth materials to the United States and other international markets.
The company outlined its position after Pensana Chief Executive Officer Tim George attended a private briefing with United States President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior State Department officials. According to Pensana, the briefing addressed the US administration's support for establishing independent American supply chains for rare earths and other critical minerals.
Pensana said the administration's stated objective is to secure reliable, non-Chinese supplies of rare earth elements used in defence systems, electrification, robotics and automation. The company described itself as one of a limited number of international developers capable of supplying rare earth materials to the United States and allied countries in the near term.
The US$3 billion referenced in Pensana's announcement concerns wider American support for critical-minerals supply chains. The announcement does not identify a US$3 billion award, financing commitment or contract for Pensana or the Longonjo project.
Longonjo is being developed in Angola's Huambo Province, approximately 350 km south-east of Luanda. The project lies within 5 km of the Lobito Corridor railway and a sealed national road.
Pensana plans to rail its Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate in containers for 273 km to the Port of Lobito for international export. The Lobito Corridor railway is operated under concession by a consortium comprising Trafigura, Mota-Engil and Vecturis.
The US$250 million Longonjo development was approximately 25% complete when Pensana issued its latest announcement on 10 August 2026. Initial production is planned at 20,000 tonnes of Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate a year, with an expansion to 40,000 tonnes a year scheduled for the project's fourth year of production.
Pensana's operational update of 8 June 2026 referred to first Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate commissioning in 2027. The company's subsequent announcement states that first production is scheduled for 2028. These are presented by Pensana as separate commissioning and production milestones.
A heavy rare earth recovery circuit is also being designed for Longonjo. Pensana is targeting production of more than 122 tonnes of dysprosium and terbium a year, with the United States, Japan and Europe identified as prospective markets.
The company's June update said its US mine-to-magnet strategy was supported by a US$165 million strategic investment from Cascade Natural Resources. Pensana also referred to proposed debt financing of up to US$160 million, arranged by ABSA and intended to be guaranteed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
Following the presidential briefing, George discussed Pensana's proposed role in supplying rare earth materials to the United States with David Copley of the Executive Office of the President and National Security Council.
George said: “It was a privilege to be invited to Washington for this important Presidential briefing which is very supportive of our U.S. Mine to magnet strategy and NASDAQ listing.”
Neither the 10 August announcement nor Pensana's June operational update identifies a concluded rail freight agreement or capacity allocation with the Lobito Corridor concessionaire. The stated railway component remains Pensana's planned transport route for Longonjo's future production.
