Swordsmyth
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The Trump White House is turning to a little-known tool to fast-track federal approvals for a slate of mining projects it says are vital to shoring up domestic energy, technological, and defense supply chains dominated by China.
In an announcement late last week, the White House added 10 critical mineral exploration and mining projects—including projects that would produce coal, copper, lithium, silver, phosphate, potash, molybdenum, and antimony—to the federal permitting dashboard, a move that increases transparency in approval timelines, streamlines the permitting process, and ensures rapid prioritization. Officials said those 10 projects are just the beginning and that several more will soon be added to the dashboard.
The action signals a significant departure from how previous administrations have utilized the federal permitting dashboard. Since the bipartisan Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act created the tool a decade ago, the federal government has used it to fast-track just two mining projects.
It also underscores President Donald Trump's commitment to strengthening domestic mineral supply chains. The president issued an executive order last month instructing his administration to prioritize mining projects, stating that such actions are imperative for American national security. Critical minerals are required to manufacture energy technologies, batteries, semiconductors, and military-grade equipment—but are largely imported from China.
The Chinese government, meanwhile, hasn't been afraid to leverage its position as the world's largest producer of critical minerals for strategic geopolitical aims. In the latest example, China issued strict export controls on antimony, germanium, and gallium—all key components of technologies that Americans and the United States military rely on.
"There are projects that have languished or stalled for years, sometimes decades, and it's because of government bureaucracy getting in the way. The president has made it very clear that we need to move projects forward that are going to help the American people and make America energy dominant," senior White House official told the Washington Free Beacon. "It's about using all of the levers of government to our advantage, versus against projects."
"Lots of people have talked about critical minerals in the past and yet here we are with some of the worst permitting timelines in the world," said a second senior White House official. "This president is adamant that we're going to change that and we're going to treat this sector like its priority. We're going to provide our entrepreneurs and our businesses with the tools they need to be successful."
Both officials confirmed that the White House will continue to add more projects to the federal permitting dashboard. The projects selected last week, however, could themselves play a significant role in boosting mineral production in the United States.
More at:
freebeacon.com
In an announcement late last week, the White House added 10 critical mineral exploration and mining projects—including projects that would produce coal, copper, lithium, silver, phosphate, potash, molybdenum, and antimony—to the federal permitting dashboard, a move that increases transparency in approval timelines, streamlines the permitting process, and ensures rapid prioritization. Officials said those 10 projects are just the beginning and that several more will soon be added to the dashboard.
The action signals a significant departure from how previous administrations have utilized the federal permitting dashboard. Since the bipartisan Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act created the tool a decade ago, the federal government has used it to fast-track just two mining projects.
It also underscores President Donald Trump's commitment to strengthening domestic mineral supply chains. The president issued an executive order last month instructing his administration to prioritize mining projects, stating that such actions are imperative for American national security. Critical minerals are required to manufacture energy technologies, batteries, semiconductors, and military-grade equipment—but are largely imported from China.
The Chinese government, meanwhile, hasn't been afraid to leverage its position as the world's largest producer of critical minerals for strategic geopolitical aims. In the latest example, China issued strict export controls on antimony, germanium, and gallium—all key components of technologies that Americans and the United States military rely on.
"There are projects that have languished or stalled for years, sometimes decades, and it's because of government bureaucracy getting in the way. The president has made it very clear that we need to move projects forward that are going to help the American people and make America energy dominant," senior White House official told the Washington Free Beacon. "It's about using all of the levers of government to our advantage, versus against projects."
"Lots of people have talked about critical minerals in the past and yet here we are with some of the worst permitting timelines in the world," said a second senior White House official. "This president is adamant that we're going to change that and we're going to treat this sector like its priority. We're going to provide our entrepreneurs and our businesses with the tools they need to be successful."
Both officials confirmed that the White House will continue to add more projects to the federal permitting dashboard. The projects selected last week, however, could themselves play a significant role in boosting mineral production in the United States.
More at:
Code:
https://freebeacon.com/energy/trump-admin-accelerates-mining-projects-as-china-curbs-critical-mineral-exports/Trump Admin Accelerates Mining Projects as China Curbs Critical Mineral Exports
The Trump White House is turning to a little-known tool to fast-track federal approvals for a slate of mining projects it says are vital to shoring up domestic energy, technological, and defense supply chains dominated by China.
freebeacon.com
