Energy Transition & Power Demand▲impact 4
US unveils over $2 billion in new domestic mining projects
The US government has announced more than $2 billion in new projects to support the domestic mining industry, alongside over $180 million for mining workforce development. The Department of War confirmed investments including over $85 million for Standard Bauxite to supply refractory-grade bauxite, $150 million for Minnesota-based Niron Magnetics to develop rare earth-free permanent magnets for defense, $1.4 billion for California's Sila Nanotechnologies to expand silicon-carbon battery anode and lithium-ion cell manufacturing, and $400 million for Sunrise Energy Metals to establish a scandium value chain. The Export-Import Bank allocated $8 million to 5E Advanced Materials for boron production, $25 million to Westwater Resources for graphite extraction, and $25 million to Global Advanced Materials for tantalum and niobium development. The Department of Energy is providing $100 million to 14 mining schools to double capacity for mining-related qualifications, while the Department of War will give over $80 million to three schools for workforce and innovation initiatives.