US Army Opens Bases for Mineral Plants After $30 Million Antimony Refinery Push
Updated
Updated · Crypto Briefing · Jun 25
US Army Opens Bases for Mineral Plants After $30 Million Antimony Refinery Push
3 articles · Updated · Crypto Briefing · Jun 25
Summary
The Army is leasing underused land on military installations to private companies that can process critical minerals domestically, using its Enhanced Use Leasing program to pair defense supply needs with base revenue.
Antimony trisulfide is the first target because it is essential for bullet primers; the Army has already funded a modular refinery with $30 million and is testing it at Idaho National Laboratory.
Perpetua Resources is a key partner, supplying domestic antimony feedstock from Idaho as the Pentagon tries to rebuild a supply chain exposed when China halted antimony trisulfide shipments in 2021.
Military bases offer security, infrastructure and transport access, but wider expansion will need far more capital, plus long-term leases and procurement commitments to make private investment viable.
Can America's new mineral refineries truly challenge China's decades of market dominance?
What is the true environmental cost of securing America's military supply chains on home soil?
From Ground to Round: How the US Army Is Building a Domestic Antimony Supply Chain for National Defense
Overview
The US Army is urgently working to secure a domestic supply of antimony, a mineral critical for national security and advanced defense technologies like ammunition and night vision equipment. This push comes as global conflicts increase demand and the US remains heavily dependent on Chinese imports, exposing a major vulnerability in the defense supply chain. In response to China’s 2024 export ban, the Army has launched new programs, including leasing military land for mineral processing and investing in modular refinery technology. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to build a resilient, fully domestic supply chain from raw material extraction to finished defense products.