{
  "id": 14069529,
  "title": "Hertha Metals breaks ground on $100M US plant for magnet-grade iron",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/hertha-metals-breaks-ground-on-100m-us-plant-for-magnet-grade-iron",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-12T23:27:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mining.com",
    "slug": "mining-com",
    "url": "https://www.mining.com/hertha-metals-breaks-ground-on-100m-us-commercial-plant-for-magnet-grade-iron/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hertha Metals marked the start of construction on Monday for its first commercial plant in Conroe, Texas, named Hertha Chalyx. This plant will produce 10,000 metric tons of steel-grade and magnet-grade high-purity iron annually. Located adjacent to Hertha’s Pi100 pilot plant, Chalyx is set to be a pioneering iron and steel innovation complex in the United States. The facility will utilize local iron ore, primarily sourced from Minnesota’s Iron Range, and Texas natural gas. Funded by Hertha’s $133.65 million Series A investment, which includes a $65 million equity contribution from the US government, the $100 million plant is positioned to address critical gaps in the US rare earth magnet supply chain. As supply chain disruptions loom and policymakers look to reduce dependence on China for strategic materials, Hertha Metals aims to fill this void. The company's FLEXHERS process, a fusion of electric arc furnace technology with natural gas or hydrogen, is key to producing high-purity iron. Hertha Chalyx is currently focused on generating high-purity iron for U.S. rare earth magnet manufacturers, with NdFeB magnets making up approximately 70% of the material by weight. Utilizing this iron, Hertha Metals will soon surpass China's production, which currently accounts for 94% of the high-purity iron used in these magnets. CEO Laureen Meroueh expressed her team's dedication to advancing the technology, stating that Chalyx will validate the commercial viability of their innovation, paving the way for a 500,000-ton-per-year steel mill. The plant is slated to commence operations in late 2027, with magnet-grade high-purity iron production starting in early 2028.",
  "summary": "The plant will run on domestic iron ore, primarily from Minnesota's Iron Range, and Texas natural gas.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}