Nevada army depot to serve as base for first US strategic minerals stockpile

A public-private initiative to establish America’s first Strategic Mineral Reserve (SMR) will be spearheaded by critical minerals pioneer M2i Global (US-OTC: MTWO) and aviation solutions provider Volato Group (NYSE-A: SOAR).On Thursday, the companies announced the launch of this initiative, with a view of securing the nation’s supply of metals essential to defense, clean energy and industrial leadership. Specifically, it will focus on storing, refining and distributing critical minerals such as gallium, graphite and copper, which are vital for the manufacturing of defense systems, semiconductors, batteries and electric vehicles.The facility for the SMR will be headquartered at the Hawthorne Army Depot (HWAD) in Mineral County, Nevada. Established in 1930, the HWAD represents the “world’s largest depot” for ammunition storage, with an approximately storage space of 56,000 m2.The SMR project is supported by the Department of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency and Department of Energy.The initiative combines secure storage, refining capabilities, ethical sourcing, AI forecasting and workforce development through local partnerships, said M2i Global, which provides engineering, research and other services related to the US critical minerals sector.The announcement follows a report from the Hoover Institution, which called for a US-led multilateral critical minerals stockpile and collaborative planning efforts with various federal and state agencies, including the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED).“Nevada’s abundance in critical minerals presents an opportunity to drive innovation and economic opportunities across our state and beyond, which is why international manipulation of the markets for lithium and other critical minerals presents a real threat,” GOED executive director Tom Burns stated in a press release“Securing this supply chain is vital to our national security, and Nevada has the resources to produce and stockpile these critical minerals,” Burns added.“This is not a stockpile, it’s a strategic capability,” said Major General (Ret.) Alberto Rosende, CEO of M2i Global. “We’re honored to work with Tom Burns and his team at GOED to ensure Nevada plays a defining role in securing our economic and national future. This is the right state, the right team, and the right time.”Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Mining.com Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Mining.com