Biden Announces Statement on Expanding Domestic Rare Earth Supply Chain

Chris Gibbs, CEO and Managing Director of American Rare Earths, said, "As we continue to work with leading scientific institutions engaged in U.S. government-supported domestic rare earth recovery research and development programs, we applaud the latest initiative announced by the Biden Administration to enhance the security of the domestic rare earth supply chain."

He added, "These actions will help accelerate the U.S. transition to clean energy, which American Rare Earths is working to achieve by advancing our large-scale U.S. Rare Earths Program and as a team member of the Critical Materials Institute (CMI). As rare earths are critical to U.S. national security, we are also providing feedstock and in-kind support to applicants for research funding under DARPA's EMBER biomining rare earths recovery program which is supported by the U.S. Department of Defense."

The Biden Administration has ordered action throughout the U.S. federal government to ensure a reliable and sustainable supply of critical minerals and materials. In addition, it has upheld the government's priorities for labor, environmental and environmental justice, and equity.

Biden said his administration will strengthen the supply chain for critical minerals, including rare earth supply chain, to end dependence on key minerals from China. The United States currently imports close to 100 percent of these minerals from other countries, and the White House expects demand for these minerals to increase by as much as 600 percent over the next few decades.

The EO-commissioned report recommends "expanding domestic extraction, production, processing, and recycling of critical minerals and materials, all with a focus on promoting strong labor, environmental and environmental justice, community engagement, and tribal consultation standards."

At the same time, the U.S. Geological Survey compiled the 2022 Critical Minerals List. The updated list of 50 critical minerals identifies the following minerals found in U.S. rare earth deposit assays: cerium, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, hafnium, lanthanum, lutetium, neodymium, praseodymium, samarium, scandium, terbium, thulium, yttrium, and zirconium.

These minerals are critical to the U.S. clean energy transition, national defense, and a range of everyday items necessary in an advanced economy, such as communications systems, lighting, metal alloys, and more.

To focus federal agencies' efforts on procuring critical minerals, the government will direct agencies to prioritize the production and processing of minerals needed to produce critical technologies and products in accordance with its strong environmental, social, and labor principles.

In addition, it will enhance the stockpile of critical minerals to secure the supply of critical minerals, including rare earth supply. The Departments of Energy, Defense, and State signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to better coordinate stockpile activities in support of the U.S. transition to clean energy and national security needs.

American Rare Earths Ltd. is an Australian exploration and technology company focused on rare earths, with its most advanced project located in the United States and potentially the largest rare earth deposit in the country. The company's mission is to provide key materials for a future of renewable energy, green technology, electric vehicles, national security and carbon reduction. Mineral exploration projects include the La Paz Rare Earth Project in Arizona, the Searchlight Rare Earths Project in Nevada and the Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project in Wyoming.

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