To ensure a stable domestic supply of critical minerals for national defense and military purposes, the US Army is planning to develop a small-scale refining plant team. This initiative aims to produce materials needed for manufacturing ammunition, armor, and other weapons to support the goal of reducing reliance on supply chains with China for the US and its Western allies.
US Army ammunition procurement consultant Mark Mezger told Reuters, “We need to find a way to produce our own (critical minerals) domestically so we can actually monitor and control them within our borders.”
Currently, the Army is collaborating with the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and gold mining company Perpetua Resources on a project to develop antimony processing. Antimony is the first mineral prioritized for refinement by the military.
In September, the US Army’s Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition (JPEO A&A) partnered with Perpetua Resources Inc. to launch a project to redevelop an abandoned Stibnite mine in central Idaho for extracting gold and stibnite, a key component for ammunition production.
Antimony in the form of trisulfide has not been produced in the US since the 1960s. In 2021, the Army discovered that Beijing had halted the supply of antimony trisulfide, leading to the depletion of the military’s one-year stockpile, prompting the Army to recognize the critical importance of establishing domestic options.
Mezger emphasized, “Without antimony trisulfide, primers cannot be manufactured. Without primers, bullets cannot be manufactured. And a military without bullets is just a parade.”
The refining project developed by the Army at a cost of $30 million is designed by the private company Westpro Machinery and can be transported in four shipping containers.
The expected annual production capacity of the plant is 7 to 10 metric tons of antimony trisulfide, although lower than commercial refining plants, it is sufficient to meet the Army’s needs during peacetime. Mezger stated that in the event of a conflict, the Army could expand processing by adding additional mini-refineries to process the ore from Perpetua’s Idaho mines.
Maj. Gen. John T. Reim, the Project Executive Officer, pointed out to OilPrice.com that the Stibnite project holds the largest known antimony reserves in the US, estimated at up to 148 million pounds. Considering China’s long-standing dominance in the global supply chain of critical minerals, this reserve is one of the largest antimony reserves outside of foreign control.
INL will conduct a six-month test on the facility, and refineries for other minerals may be located on military bases or other government properties.
If the antimony project is successful, Washington’s goal is to develop similar refining plants for other minerals deemed critical by the government, including tungsten, rare earths, and boron.
Jon Cherry, CEO of Perpetua, told OilPrice.com that the development of the plant will help “pave the way for US mineral independence and resilience.”
Furthermore, the Trump administration is ensuring investments by acquiring minority stakes in North American rare earth and lithium companies and projects. US and European companies are also forming alliances with miners and refiners to establish magnet supply chains independent of China.