The U.S. is accelerating the permitting process for major mining projects as part of efforts to bolster critical mineral supply chains.
On the 18th, the White House announced, “In line with President Donald Trump’s plan to expand domestic production of critical minerals, the federal government will expedite the permitting process for 10 mining projects, with plans to add more in the future.”
These projects have been granted FAST-41 status, a federal program designed to streamline infrastructure approvals. The initiative aims to shorten federal permitting timelines and enhance transparency and efficiency by publicly tracking progress on an official website.
Here are the mining projects selected for fast-track approval by the U.S. government: Perpetua Resources’ antimony and gold mine in Idaho, Rio Tinto’s copper mine in Arizona, Hecla Mining’s silver and copper operation in Montana, and Albemarle’s lithium mine expansion in Nevada.
Other projects, such as Standard Lithium’s lithium extraction project in Arkansas and Warrior Met Coal’s metallurgical coal project in Alabama, are also set to move forward. These minerals are essential for strategic industries, including batteries, semiconductors, and steel manufacturing.
The move is seen as a strategic step to strengthen U.S. supply chain independence and reduce reliance on China amid intensifying global competition for critical minerals. President Trump recently ordered an investigation into potential tariffs on imports of these minerals, a decision that could further escalate trade tensions, particularly with China.
Companies involved in the projects have welcomed the government’s action. Perpetua Resources stated that the decision “recognizes the urgency and importance of the project for national security and the economy.” Rio Tinto emphasized that “domestic copper supply chains are critical for energy transition and infrastructure needs.”
Albemarle added, “We look forward to collaborating with the government to strengthen lithium supply chains.”
