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WASHINGTON — A Canadian mining company has been selected by the U.S. Army to develop graphite processing facilities at military sites as the Pentagon moves to strengthen North America’s critical minerals supply chain and reduce reliance on China.
Titan Mining, through its subsidiary Empire State Mines, received conditional selection notices for enhanced-use leases at two U.S. Army sites to develop graphite processing capacity.
The announcement is part of a broader U.S. effort to secure domestic sources of critical minerals used in defence systems, batteries and advanced manufacturing.
U.S.-based REalloys was also selected to negotiate a long-term lease to develop heavy rare earth processing facilities at the Tooele Army Depot in Utah.
Under the proposed agreements, which could run for up to 50 years, Titan would finance, design, build, operate and eventually decommission the processing facilities, while the U.S. Army would retain ownership of the land.
The company plans to develop facilities on a 245-acre site at Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas, which would serve as the primary location, and a 97-acre site at Anniston Army Depot in Alabama.
REalloys’ planned facility in Utah would process heavy rare earth elements, including dysprosium and terbium, which are used in high-temperature permanent magnets found in military and industrial applications.
Titan said construction is expected to begin during the second half of 2027 and added it will continue pursuing opportunities at additional Army sites.
The company operates zinc mining assets in upstate New York and is developing a domestic natural flake graphite supply chain in North America.
The U.S. Department of Defense has been expanding efforts to establish domestic processing capacity for critical minerals as geopolitical tensions and export restrictions have raised concerns about dependence on Chinese supply chains. Reuters first reported in December the Pentagon was exploring the development of small critical mineral refineries on military bases to support defence readiness.
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