The White House has announced that it will expedite the permitting process for 10 mining projects across the United States as part of President Donald Trump’s initiative to boost the production of critical minerals. These projects, which will provide essential resources like copper, antimony, and other minerals, have been granted FAST-41 status, a federal program designed to streamline approvals for critical infrastructure. The administration has indicated that it plans to include additional projects in the future. The 10 projects selected are now publicly listed on a U.S. federal website where their permitting progress can be tracked, reflecting the administration’s commitment to greater transparency and efficiency in the permitting process.
The White House emphasized that this transparency would lead to more accountability, resulting in a more streamlined and effective approval system. Among the projects being fast-tracked is an antimony and gold mine in Idaho from Perpetua Resources, a copper mine in Arizona from Rio Tinto, and a copper and silver mine in Montana from Hecla Mining. Additionally, the expansion of Albemarle’s lithium mine in Nevada, an Arkansas lithium extraction project from Standard Lithium, and a metallurgical coal project in Alabama from Warrior Met Coal are also included. Metallurgical coal is a critical component in steel production.
Perpetua Resources expressed their appreciation for being selected, highlighting the importance of their project for both economic and national security reasons. Rio Tinto emphasized that its Resolution copper project in Arizona is essential for securing a domestic supply of copper, vital for America’s energy infrastructure. Albemarle similarly expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with the administration to advance a U.S.-based lithium supply chain.
Former President Joe Biden previously fast-tracked South32’s Hermosa zinc-manganese project in Arizona, the first project to benefit from the FAST-41 process. This new push from the Trump administration also includes a broader strategy to secure a more robust domestic supply of critical minerals. In addition to fast-tracking mining projects, Trump recently ordered a probe into potential new tariffs on U.S. critical mineral imports, signaling a more aggressive stance in trade relations, particularly with China, and an effort to strengthen the U.S. mineral supply chain amid global trade tensions.
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