Tag: Critical Minerals

U.S. Supports $7.4 Billion Korea Zinc Plant to Secure Critical Minerals Supply

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

The United States is throwing its support behind a major new critical minerals investment as Korea Zinc moves forward with plans to build a $7.4 billion smelting facility on U.S. soil. The project underscores Washington’s growing urgency to secure domestic and allied supply chains for materials vital to semiconductors, defense systems, aerospace applications, and advanced manufacturing.

Korea Zinc, the world’s largest zinc smelter, has approved the creation of a U.S.-based joint venture, Crucible JV LLC, to develop what it describes as a state-of-the-art, fully integrated large-scale smelting complex. The venture will be backed by a mix of U.S. government funding, strategic investors, and Korea Zinc itself, with roughly $1.94 billion of the total project cost coming from this public-private partnership.

The planned facility will be built on the site of the existing Clarksville, Tennessee smelter currently operated by Nyrstar USA, a subsidiary of commodities trader Trafigura. Korea Zinc plans to acquire the plant and significantly expand its capabilities, transforming it into a multi-metal processing hub. Once completed, the site is expected to refine zinc, lead, copper, gold, and silver, along with strategically sensitive minerals such as antimony, germanium, and gallium.

Those three minerals have taken on heightened geopolitical importance following China’s recent export restrictions, which were widely viewed as retaliation for U.S. technology curbs. Antimony, germanium, and gallium are essential inputs for products ranging from semiconductors and satellite systems to night-vision equipment and advanced defense electronics. By developing domestic refining capacity, the U.S. aims to reduce reliance on Chinese-controlled supply chains and strengthen its industrial resilience.

The deal highlights how critical minerals policy has become a bipartisan priority in Washington. Even as incentives for electric vehicles face political headwinds, securing non-China sources of strategic materials has gained momentum. For Korea Zinc, the U.S. investment represents a shift in positioning — from a company tied closely to the electric vehicle and clean energy cycle to one that plays a broader role in national security and defense supply chains.

JPMorgan Chase advised Korea Zinc on the structure of the public-private partnership and helped finance the transaction through its Security and Resiliency Initiative, a program designed to channel capital into industries that reinforce economic security. The involvement of major financial institutions further signals confidence in the long-term demand for domestically refined critical minerals.

Still, the announcement comes amid internal corporate tensions. Korea Zinc is navigating an ongoing ownership dispute after its largest shareholder, Young Poong, alongside MBK Partners, launched an unsolicited takeover bid. Critics argue the U.S. smelter plan could be as much about consolidating management control as it is about long-term strategy. Supporters counter that the project positions Korea Zinc at the center of a global realignment in industrial supply chains.

Market reaction suggests investors see strategic value in the move. Korea Zinc shares surged following the announcement, reflecting optimism that geopolitical tailwinds and government backing could translate into durable growth. As global competition for critical minerals intensifies, the U.S.-Korea Zinc partnership marks a significant step in reshaping how and where essential materials are produced.

Why Critical Minerals Could Be the Next Big Frontier for Small-Cap Investors

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

The global shift toward electrification is accelerating, and with it comes a renewed focus on the minerals that make modern energy and technology possible. Lithium, nickel, graphite, phosphate, rare earths, and other essential materials are the backbone of batteries, solar panels, electric vehicles, and grid-scale storage. As nations push to secure supply chains and reduce dependence on foreign imports, the critical minerals sector is becoming one of the most strategically important areas in global markets. For small-cap investors, this creates a compelling landscape of early-stage opportunities.

Large producers tend to dominate the headlines, but the real innovation and discovery often originate in the junior and small-cap space. These companies take on the high-risk, early exploration work that can eventually create meaningful supply for downstream industries. While these stocks can be volatile, they also offer leverage to rising demand and tightening supply conditions that can dramatically reprice assets once the market recognizes their potential.

One example of this emerging potential can be seen in the phosphate segment. Phosphate is best known for its role in agriculture, but it is increasingly valuable as a component in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. This chemistry has become a preferred option for EV manufacturers and grid-storage systems due to its safety profile, long cycle life, and lower cost. As LFP adoption expands, the need for battery-grade phosphate grows alongside it.

Emerging growth companies such as First Phosphate have positioned themselves within this shift. While still small-cap in size, the focus on high-purity phosphate projects in geopolitically stable regions aligns with what major battery and automotive manufacturers are now seeking: secure, traceable, and environmentally responsible supply. These are qualities that the North American market in particular is trying to build as part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on overseas sources.

Click here to watch First Phosphate’s corporate presentation at NobleCon21.

Beyond phosphate, other critical minerals are facing similar supply-demand pressures. Graphite remains essential for battery anodes, yet most production is concentrated in a single country. Rare earth elements are required for EV motors and wind turbines, but refining capacity is limited and slow to build. Nickel and manganese face challenges tied to environmental impacts and inconsistent global supply. In each of these segments, small-cap exploration and development companies are working to advance projects that could eventually scale into meaningful contributors to the supply chain.

For investors willing to put in the research, the small-cap critical minerals sector offers exposure to themes that are likely to play out over decades. Governments are investing heavily in domestic mineral strategies, electrification continues to expand worldwide, and technology companies are demanding reliable inputs to meet their production goals. These forces create a long runway for companies that can deliver high-purity materials at competitive costs.

Small-cap investing in this space still requires discipline. Projects take time to develop, capital needs can be significant, and not every discovery becomes a mine. But for investors looking for early entry points into the minerals reshaping the global energy landscape, this sector provides a combination of macro tailwinds and company-specific catalysts that can create real opportunity when approached carefully.

U.S. and Australia Seal $8.5B Critical Minerals Deal

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

In a move with broad implications for the future of global supply chains and the defence technology sector, President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have signed a new agreement on critical minerals. This collaboration was unveiled at the White House on October 20, 2025, and establishes a formal partnership with a project pipeline that could reach $8.5 billion.​

Though the White House described the agreement as a framework, officials in both countries confirmed immediate capital is forthcoming for key initiatives. Over the next six months alone, the agreement will facilitate joint investments of more than $3 billion, with Australia and the U.S. directly contributing at least $1 billion in the near term. Much of this funding will be deployed into advanced processing and mining projects focused on rare earths and other critical minerals essential for high-tech manufacturing and defence, including electric vehicles, robotics, and semiconductors.​

The U.S. Export-Import Bank is prepared to offer at least $2.2 billion in letters of interest for project loans, which could unlock up to $5 billion in further investment. Alcoa and other major industrial players are already involved, with a particular emphasis on new rare earths separation facilities and a gallium refinery in Western Australia. The Pentagon is backing the gallium project, targeting a refinery output of 100 metric tons annually, a move that will significantly enhance non-Chinese supply for this vital semiconductor and electronics material.​

This agreement comes as the global race to secure critical minerals intensifies. China continues to dominate rare earth processing and recently implemented strict export controls, escalating trade tensions with the U.S. and its allies. The new U.S.–Australia framework marks a decisive shift away from Chinese supply chain dependence and signals a new era of industrial cooperation between Western allies.

The market outlook is robust: rare earths and related minerals are used in everything from precision-guided missile systems to wind turbines and next-generation batteries. With rising geopolitical risk and acute supply chain vulnerabilities exposed, government-backed efforts like this one are set to redefine project financing and resource development models. The pipeline also includes a three-country venture involving the U.S., Australia, and Japan, integrating expertise and industrial capacity across the Pacific.​

From the investor’s perspective, the partnership is about more than near-term capital flows. It reflects a “friend-shoring” philosophy, rerouting core inputs for modern industrial economies through trusted democratic partners. This is expected to benefit not only major participants like Alcoa but also small and micro-cap mining companies able to secure public or strategic backing for projects in Australia and allied regions. With the right execution, these upstream investments could set the stage for renewed growth and improved supply security throughout the clean energy and technology sectors

Trump Eyes $2 Billion Shift From CHIPS Act to Critical Minerals Push

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

The Trump administration is weighing whether to divert at least $2 billion from the CHIPS and Science Act toward U.S. critical minerals projects, according to people familiar with the deliberations. The move would mark a significant redirection of funds originally earmarked for semiconductor research and factory construction, underscoring the White House’s push to reduce reliance on China for strategic resources.

The CHIPS Act, signed into law in 2022 under President Joe Biden, was designed to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research through more than $50 billion in incentives. Since taking office in January, President Trump has repeatedly criticized the law as an overly generous “corporate giveaway” and has sought to reshape its provisions. Redirecting funds toward mining and mineral processing would be one of his most consequential adjustments yet.

Supporters of the potential shift argue that the proposal is consistent with the CHIPS Act’s core mission: ensuring secure and stable supply chains for chipmaking. Semiconductor fabrication requires a steady flow of critical materials such as gallium, germanium, and rare earth elements, areas where China dominates global production and processing.

“The administration is creatively trying to find ways to fund the critical minerals sector,” one source said, noting that any changes remain under discussion.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, a former Wall Street executive tapped by Trump earlier this year, would gain expanded authority over funding decisions. His office already manages CHIPS Act disbursements but would now oversee a broader portfolio of projects spanning mining, processing, and recycling. The move follows internal tensions after the Pentagon’s recent investment in rare earths producer MP Materials raised questions about Washington’s broader minerals strategy.

For U.S. mining and processing firms, the potential reallocation could provide a much-needed financial lifeline. Companies such as Albemarle, the world’s largest lithium producer, have warned that stalled U.S. refinery projects will be difficult to revive without direct government support. Similar challenges face smaller recycling and processing ventures, many of which struggle to compete with China’s state-backed operations.

It remains unclear whether the administration would deploy the $2 billion as grants, loans, or equity stakes. Lutnick has reportedly pushed to “get the money out the door” quickly, signaling urgency in expanding domestic mineral capacity. Additional funding reallocations may follow if the strategy is adopted.

The Biden administration previously considered using CHIPS Act dollars for critical minerals but dismissed the idea as uneconomical and environmentally complex. Critics of Trump’s approach may raise similar concerns, pointing to the permitting hurdles and potential environmental impacts of new mining operations. Others warn that shifting money away from semiconductor projects could weaken efforts to bring advanced chip manufacturing back to U.S. soil.

Still, Trump has moved aggressively to boost resource production. He has signed executive orders promoting deep-sea mining and met with major industry leaders, including Rio Tinto and BHP executives, to highlight his commitment. The administration’s broader strategy is also being coordinated with the Department of Energy, which last week proposed $1 billion in critical minerals spending tied to infrastructure legislation.

By elevating Lutnick’s role, the White House seeks to consolidate decision-making and avoid the fragmented approach seen earlier this summer. Administration officials say this shift will create clearer guidelines for government support across the minerals sector, though questions remain about how conflicts of interest will be managed.

The deliberations highlight the administration’s view that secure mineral supply chains are as vital as semiconductor fabs themselves. Whether Congress and industry stakeholders embrace the reallocation will determine how far the plan advances — and how quickly Washington can build resilience in two sectors that underpin the nation’s technological and economic future.