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Ramaco outlines local research, storage and rare-earth testing in Sheridan County
Summary
Ramaco representatives briefed commissioners on construction of an ore storage facility, a planned research building, ICAM lab remodels, ongoing drilling for rare-earths and synthetic graphite work, and incremental local hiring; company said no extracted material has been sold and processing methods remain under development.
Representatives from Ramaco briefed the Sheridan County Board of Commissioners on May 26 about multiple local projects, including an ore and bulk-storage facility near Taylor's Quarry, a research facility on Claiborne Road and laboratory upgrades at the ICAM site.
"My name is Scott Kreitzer. I am with Ramaco," Scott Kreitzer told the board, then described construction and near-term timelines: an ore storage structure expected to be wrapped up within a month and a prefabricated metal research building slated for erection in September–October, subject to weather and supply-chain constraints. He said the company has filed permits for remodeling the ICAM lab to expand research capacity.
Kreitzer said Ramaco has been drilling to determine the quality and quantity of potential rare-earth and critical-mineral resources on the property and that much of the analytical work that would previously have been sent out is now being done at ICAM. "We're we're working on a synthetic graphite product out of coal," he said, noting that graphite has recently been named a critical mineral by the federal government and that the company is also confirming quantities of elements such as scandium, germanium and gallium.
Commissioners asked whether any extracted coal or material had been sold; Kreitzer said no material has been sold to date and that the work so far remains in analysis and testing phases. He emphasized that the final extraction and processing methods are still being developed and that the ICAM and the new research facility will help determine an optimal process. Ramaco also noted incremental hiring: three new employees since January, two of whom are Sheridan County residents, with additional interviews scheduled.
The company did not present a finalized extraction or processing plan and repeatedly characterized the project as research-driven at this stage. Commissioners did not vote on any permits during the meeting; Ramaco's presentation was informational and aimed at updating the board on project status and local employment.
