As Rowena has clearly said. Dubbo strongly promoted...

As Rowena has clearly said.

• Dubbo strongly promoted internationally by the Australian government
• The largest funding proposal by EXIM for any Australian project (maybe any international project)
• Top of the MSP hotlist

https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4026144/securing-critical-minerals-vital-to-national-security-official-says/

Importance of Critical Minerals:

• Critical minerals are foundational to the defense industrial base, used in virtually every advanced system required by the Defense Department, including unmanned aerial vehicles, fighter jets, and submarines.
• These materials are vital for components such as advanced electronics, energy storage systems, and propulsion technologies.

Adversarial Disruptions:

• Nations like China have leveraged their dominant position in the global supply of critical minerals to impose export bans on materials like gallium, germanium, and antimony.
• Such actions highlight vulnerabilities in U.S. supply chains and underscore the need to secure alternative and reliable sources for these materials.

Domestic Challenges:

• The U.S. faces significant challenges in developing its critical minerals infrastructure, including a lack of skilled labor and training programs to support increased domestic mining and processing.
• Current U.S. sourcing and production capacity for key minerals remain insufficient to meet growing defense production demand.

DOD Initiatives to Strengthen Supply Chains:

• The Department of Defense has invested over $439 million since 2020 to establish and expand domestic rare earth element supply chains.
• A five-year rare earth investment strategy is in place to enhance domestic capacity, addressing critical gaps, including the fact that only one active rare earth mine currently operates in the U.S.
• Efforts are underway to develop the domestic workforce and processing capabilities needed to support a robust supply chain.

Strengthening Allied Partnerships:

• Congress has recently expanded the Defense Production Act to include the United Kingdom and Australia, alongside Canada, as domestic sources for defense materials.
• Collaboration with allied nations allows for joint funding and the sharing of resources, as seen in projects with Canada targeting increased secure supplies of cobalt, graphite, and tungsten.
• The U.S. has also established 19 security supply cooperation agreements with partner nations, enabling mutual priority for fulfilling defense contracts, which bolsters collective resilience against supply chain disruptions.

Stockpiling Strategy:

• The DOD is stockpiling critical minerals as a proactive measure to act as a buffer against unexpected demand spikes or supply chain interruptions.
• This stockpiling serves as a strategic "shock absorber," ensuring that defense production can continue uninterrupted even during periods of scarcity.

Strategic Goals and Broader Implications:

• Building resilient supply chains aligns with broader DOD objectives to safeguard national security by reducing reliance on adversarial nations for critical resources.
• Strengthened alliances and partnerships enable the U.S. and its allies to leverage each other's strengths, increasing the overall capability and stability of the defense industrial base.
• Long-term planning and investment in critical minerals reflect the U.S. government's commitment to securing supply chains essential for both defense and broader economic security.