In March, Reuters reported that the U.S. military could soon build refineries for certain critical minerals on its bases—a move aimed at breaking China’s dominance in this sensitive sector. According to the agency, these plans are now gaining momentum.
Small-scale refineries are being developed essentially for the U.S. Army’s own needs, in collaboration with the Idaho National Laboratory and the mineral company Perpetua Resources. The Department of Defense and Perpetua have already worked together for several years to supply antimony products that meet military specifications. The metal could be mined at Perpetua´s site in Idaho, which primarily produces gold and silver. Due to its strategic importance for U.S. supply chains, the government has significantly expedited the necessary permitting processes.
According to Reuters the military’s new plans will focus on antimony, which, as antimony trisulfide, is used among other things in ammunition production. Refineries for other minerals—such as tungsten, rare earths, and boron—could follow if the initiative proves successful.
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