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U.S. infrastructure bill targets critical minerals supply - lithium at the front of the new infrastructure bill. Massive for Li

LONDON, Aug 12 (Reuters) - The United States’ $1 trillion infrastructure package is undoubtedly good news for industrial metals.

More money for upgrading highways, railways and power grid systems will mean more demand for steel, copper and aluminium.

But when it comes to battery metals and critical minerals, the bipartisan bill is as much about boosting domestic supply as demand.

President Biden earlier this month signed an executive order with the aim that half of all U.S new vehicle sales should be electric by 2030.

The question is whether the country will have enough lithium, nickel and cobalt to make the batteries needed to power those vehicles.

A total $6 billion is earmarked for battery materials processing and manufacturing projects with another $140 million allocated for a rare earths demonstration plant, part of a broader investment drive across the full length of the metallic supply chain.