US moves critical minerals processing onto military bases
Construction will begin as early as 2027 (Photo: Getty Images)
The US Army has signed agreements with several companies to build critical minerals processing plants. The plants will be built on military bases across the country, according to Bloomberg.
This is the first initiative of its kind by the Trump administration, aimed at increasing domestic production of key materials.
According to the US Army's statement, the companies REalloys, Titan Mining, Ioneer, and EnergyX have reached agreements with the Pentagon to build processing facilities for rare earth minerals, graphite, lithium, and boron.
Specifically, REalloys will build a rare earth element separation facility at the Tooele Army Depot in Utah, with the finished products stored on-site for military use.
Titan Mining will build and operate a graphite purification plant either at the Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas or at the Anniston Army Depot in Alabama.
Meanwhile, EnergyX and Sydney-based Ioneer (the only non-US company among the four) will build lithium and boron production plants.
As Bloomberg explains, the Trump administration is rushing to increase the extraction of key minerals within the US, aiming to reduce dependence, particularly on China.
These minerals are needed for a wide range of applications, including consumer electronics, automobiles, and defense technologies, although US mines and processing plants have been closed over recent decades.
It is also explained that this will be the first time the US Army has placed commercial mineral processing facilities on US military installations.
The companies are expected to begin construction of the plants as early as 2027. Mineral extraction is scheduled to begin in 2028.
Mineral extraction
In May 2025, Ukraine and the US signed an agreement to establish a US-Ukrainian Investment Fund for Recovery with equal participation from both sides.
The document provides that funds from the fund will be directed to new Ukrainian projects – from mineral extraction to infrastructure, while full control over subsoil resources remains with Ukraine.
