US to stockpile minerals at world’s biggest ammo dump

Critical minerals company M2i Global (US-OTC: MTWO) and flight management software provider Volato Group (NYSE-A: SOAR) are spearheading a public-private initiative for America’s first Strategic Mineral Reserve (SMR) on the world’s largest ammunition storage site. 

The SMR is to be located at the 585-sq.-km Hawthorne Army Depot, about 350 km northwest of Las Vegas, the companies said Thursday. They plan to focus on storing, refining and distributing critical minerals such as gallium, graphite and copper, which are vital for the manufacturing of defence systems, semiconductors, batteries and electric vehicles. The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) is backing the initiative. 

“This is not a stockpile, it’s a strategic capability,” Major General (Ret.) Alberto Rosende, CEO of M2i Global, said in a release. “We’re honoured 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.”

The U.S. is ramping up efforts to rebuild a domestic supply chain and resilience – turning to quicker permits, strategic stockpiling, and international deals with allies – in a cold war of metals. China holds unprecedented sway over the supply chains powering the energy transition, controlling nearly 90% of rare earth refining and permanent magnet production, and commanding a dominant share across lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel, copper and more.  

Storage, refining

M2i Global, which provides engineering, research and other services to the U.S. critical minerals sector, says the SMR is to combine secure storage, refining capabilities and ethical sourcing. It will also use artificial intelligence forecasting and workforce development through local partnerships, the company said. The project is also supported by the Department of Defense, its Defense Logistics Agency and the Department of Energy.

Established in 1930, the Hawthorne Depot has 56,000 sq. metres of storage space. The SMR plan follows a report from the Hoover Institution, which called for a U.S-led multilateral critical minerals stockpile and collaborative planning efforts with various federal and state agencies, including the GOED.

“Nevada’s abundance in critical minerals presents an opportunity to drive innovation and economic opportunities across our state and beyond,” GOED executive director Burns said in the release. “Securing this supply chain is vital to our national security, and Nevada has the resources to produce and stockpile these critical minerals.”