Tajikistan and South Korea Expand Critical Minerals Cooperation

According to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, the forum included representatives of the ministry, the Executive Office of the President, the Main Department of Geology under the Government of Tajikistan and other relevant state agencies. The South Korean delegation comprised officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, the Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation (KOMIR), the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Korea Eximbank and private companies.

Tajikistan presented its potential in critical minerals, while participants discussed prospects for joint mineral exploration and the development of mineral deposits. Discussions also covered the creation of value-added supply chains, Tajikistan’s industrial strategy and plans for developing critical minerals, the raw material needs of South Korean industries, and financial support for mining projects.

Ahead of the forum, South Korea’s trade ministry noted that Tajikistan holds significant mineral resources including gold, silver and antimony. Seoul aims to combine access to these resources with South Korean technologies for mine development and geological exploration, alongside demand from its industrial sector.

B2B Talks Target Mining Projects and Supply Chains

The final part of the forum was dedicated to direct meetings between Tajik and South Korean companies. The Tajik side was represented in B2B talks by Tilloi Tojik, Pakrut, TALCO Gold, Aprelevka, Kanzi Diyor, Anzob, SKS Tajikistanu Chin, Dastras 2011 and TBEA. These companies held meetings with South Korean counterparts, with discussions focusing on opportunities for direct cooperation, joint projects and attracting investment into mining financing and mineral exploration.

Tungsten Development Adds a Strategic Minerals Focus

A separate session at the forum focused on establishing a Korean-Tajik tungsten supply chain. The topic was presented by the head of GB Innovation (GBI), which is developing the Maikhoura tungsten deposit in Tajikistan together with TALCO. According to company data, Maikhoura contains an estimated 1.92 million tonnes of ore with an average tungsten grade of approximately 0.95 per cent, with planned annual production of around 1,400 tonnes of tungsten concentrate.

GBI’s broader strategy involves combining output from Maikhoura with production from its SsangYong mine in South Korea and developing tungsten processing to supply semiconductor and defence-sector manufacturers.

The forum was preceded by government discussions on 11 August, when Tajikistan’s First Deputy Minister of Industry and New Technologies Isojon Qurbonzoda met South Korean Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Moon Shin Hak in Seoul. According to Yonhap, the two sides discussed expanding cooperation in critical minerals, industry and new technologies. They also considered the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in industry and new technologies. Additionally, the two sides discussed creating a permanent C5+Korea Industry Ministers’ Meeting involving South Korea and the five Central Asian states.

Xylem Agrees $1.46 Billion Pump Business Acquisition

The agreement sees Xylem take on two established pump businesses that bring highly engineered solutions for moving difficult-to-handle fluids. Cornell Pump and Roper Pump serve a range of mission-critical applications across construction, mining, food and beverage, agriculture, energy and municipal sectors.

Xylem said the acquisition advances its strategy to increase exposure to high-growth sectors that benefit from infrastructure investment, industrial modernisation and growing resource demands. The two businesses will be reported within Xylem’s Water Infrastructure segment once the transaction is finalised.

Matthew Pine, President and CEO of Xylem, said the long-term demand drivers supporting the business continue to strengthen, creating new opportunities across industrial markets where water is increasingly critical to operational success. He added that the acquisition expands the company’s presence in key growth sectors and enhances its ability to help customers address evolving operational requirements. Pine also noted it strengthens the portfolio in ways that support long-term value creation.

Pumping Technology Expands Mining Applications

The Cornell Pump and Roper Pump businesses add specialised mining pumping technology designed for applications involving slurry transport, solids handling and demanding suction-lift requirements. These are areas where standard pumping equipment often falls short, and the businesses bring patented self-priming capabilities that set them apart.

Their specialised expertise, developed over years of work in construction and mining environments, positions them well for the kind of tough fluid-handling challenges common across the resources sector. For mining operators dealing with abrasive slurries and heavy solids, this pumping technology for mining offers purpose-built solutions that go beyond traditional pumping needs.

The addition of slurry pumping and solids-handling capabilities gives Xylem a broader toolkit for serving industrial and municipal customers. Mining pumping technology of this nature is increasingly sought after as resource demands grow and operations become more complex.

Transaction Awaits Regulatory Approval

The transaction is expected to close in the December quarter of 2026. Completion remains subject to the receipt of required regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Once finalised, the deal will bring Cornell Pump and Roper Pump under the Xylem umbrella, adding their mining pumping technology and broader industrial expertise to the Water Infrastructure segment. The acquisition underlines a clear push by Xylem into sectors where engineered pumping solutions are essential to day-to-day operations.

Coal demand grew by less than 0.5% in 2025 and is expected to plateau through 2030, according to the International Energy Agency. Coal-fired electricity generation declined 0.6% during the same period, while wind and solar power together overtook coal in global electricity generation for the first time. Yet the global coal mine pipeline continued to grow, widening the gap between planned supply and actual demand.

China and India Lead Proposed Coal Capacity

China continues to hold the largest share of the global coal mine pipeline, with 1,321 Mtpa of proposed capacity. This accounts for more than half the worldwide total and exceeds the proposed capacity of all other countries combined. China’s proposed coal mine development remained relatively flat year on year.

India, on the other hand, recorded the sharpest increase. Its proposed coal mining capacity nearly doubled from 329 Mtpa in 2024 to 638 Mtpa in 2025, accounting for nearly all of the annual growth in the global coal mine pipeline. The surge was largely linked to Jharkhand and Odisha, where proposed mine projects doubled.

India’s Ministry of Coal set a target of nearly 1.15 billion tonnes of raw coal production for FY2025-26, citing growing energy requirements from heatwaves, economic growth and energy-security concerns. More than 20 new coal mines with combined capacity above 80 Mtpa were planned to be operationalised.

Five Countries Dominate the Global Pipeline

Coal mine development is increasingly concentrated in a handful of nations. China, India, Australia, Russia and South Africa together account for nearly 92% of proposed global coal capacity, equivalent to about 2,314 Mtpa of the 2,521 Mtpa total. Their combined share rose from 89% in 2024.

Around three-quarters of proposed capacity across the global coal mine pipeline consists of greenfield mines rather than expansions of existing operations. In India, greenfield projects account for roughly 80% of proposed capacity, underlining the scale of new coal mine development being planned.

New Mine Development Slows Despite Larger Pipeline

While the proposed pipeline expanded, actual coal mine commissioning moved in the opposite direction. Only around 113 Mtpa of new coal mining capacity entered operation in 2025, nearly 40% lower than the 185 Mtpa added in 2024. This marked a new decade low for coal mine commissioning.

The report noted that the gap between slowing demand and expanding project pipelines raises concerns about future project economics and the possibility of stranded assets. The disconnect between the growing global coal mine pipeline and weakening market fundamentals suggests that a significant portion of proposed capacity may face economic headwinds in the years ahead.

Strategic Alliance to Scale Iron Ore Digitalisation

The alliance builds on a long-standing collaboration between the two companies. ABB served as consultant, systems integrator and technology provider during the development of the Conceição II plant, contributing to advanced industrial automation, iron ore digitalisation and integrated IT/OT solutions. The focus was on optimising operations while improving safety and sustainability.

Vale plans to gradually expand the application of mining automation and artificial intelligence mining technologies to its broader portfolio of iron ore processing plants. The goal is to increase operational safety, boost performance and raise production quality. Mining digital transformation sits at the heart of this strategy, which Vale has branded as its Mining of the Future initiative.

Conceição II Model Plant Results

Inaugurated in June 2025, the Conceição II Model Plant has an annual capacity of 11.2 Mt. The facility features more than 100 monitoring cameras and the automation of more than 7,000 instruments, including advanced sensors and measurement devices. Data intelligence systems manage and optimise more than 400 variables across all stages of ore processing. Operating flows were also redesigned to anticipate failures and prevent unplanned shutdowns.

Since implementation in 2024, the plant has delivered strong results. Productivity rose by 25 per cent, premium ore production for direct reduction grew by 40 per cent, and iron losses in tailings fell by 26 per cent. The new setup also reduced the need for manual interventions, contributing to a safer working environment. These outcomes highlight how mining digital transformation can deliver measurable gains in both efficiency and worker protection.

Expanding Mining Automation Across Vale Operations

With the Conceição II plant now serving as a blueprint, the Vale ABB partnership aims to deploy a consistent approach to automation, electrification and iron ore digitalisation across multiple sites.

Carlos Medeiros, Vale’s Vice President of Operations, said the Model Plant Project demonstrated that technologies such as artificial intelligence mining improve employee safety while increasing productivity, operational efficiency and quality. He added that the company would take these learnings to other Vale operations, improving process predictability, mineral resource use and reducing worker exposure to risky activities.

Joachim Braun, President of ABB’s Process Industries Division, described the new agreement as an important milestone in the partnership. He said the companies were creating a framework to scale mining automation and digitalisation consistently, building on the success achieved at Conceição II.

The strategic alliance reinforces both companies’ commitment to mining digital transformation as a driver of safer, more sustainable and data-driven operations across Brazil’s iron ore sector.

When President Donald Trump met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House in March, the two leaders signed a memorandum of understanding for deep sea mining cooperation. A joint US-Japan statement said the deposits near Minamitorishima could “meet centuries’ worth of industrial demand.” Despite widespread scepticism about the feasibility of seabed mining at such depths, concrete steps are now being taken to advance the rare earth mining project toward a critical testing phase.

US-Japan Plans Move Toward Mining Test

Japan’s Cabinet Office recently reported back results from test samples retrieved earlier this year by Japanese survey ships. A full-scale mining test lasting one month is planned for February 2027. That test will include refining and smelting, with an aim to complete an assessment of whether commercially produced rare earths can be developed in Japan within a year of the trial.

A handful of North American companies have expressed interest in the project. Houston-based Deep Reach Technology, an offshore engineering consultancy, has held initial meetings with Japanese officials, according to Jim Wodehouse, vice president of projects at the company. Deep Reach already works on a separate project related to polymetallic nodule extraction in the Minamitorishima exclusive economic zone and holds patents in both the US and Japan for technologies that could be used in seabed mining. Those conversations remain at a very early stage.

“I’m positive about research in the Minamitorishima EEZ,” Wodehouse said. “The rare earths are very rich and include important heavy elements, as well as having low levels of radioactivity.”

Heavy Rare Earths Found in Test Samples

The test samples showed significant levels of heavy rare earths including yttrium, gadolinium and dysprosium. These critical minerals are among the most tightly controlled by China, which supplies around 90 per cent of rare earths globally. Exports from China to Japan of dysprosium and terbium have been at zero all year.

Researchers from the University of Tokyo estimated in 2018 that mud on the seabed south of Minamitorishima contained more than 16 million tons of rare earth minerals. Deposits of yttrium alone were estimated to be sufficient to meet 780 years of global demand. An additional advantage is that samples from the site were not found to have significant levels of radiation, unlike many land-based heavy rare earth deposits, making them potentially easier to process.

More test drilling is planned as Japan works toward developing a fuller project plan. The rare earth mining project has become a priority for Takaichi, who has pushed the initiative since her time as Japan’s economic security minister. Her long-term growth strategy anticipates around $5.7 billion in public and private sector funding by 2040 for deep sea resource development including this project.

Commercialisation Still Faces Major Challenges

Despite progress, the commercial future of the rare earth mining project remains uncertain. Offshore oil drilling projects to date only reach around half the depth of the Minamitorishima seabed. Water pressure at the site is around 600 times greater than at sea level. If successful, the project would likely require billions of dollars of investment over more than a decade to produce rare earths at around three times the cost of land-based extraction in China, according to one private sector estimate.

There is no consensus yet on an effective extraction method for deep sea rare earths, though University of Tokyo professor Kentaro Nakamura said test extractions have shown the depth is not an insurmountable obstacle. “There aren’t any major technical obstacles,” Nakamura said. “It’s just about political will and the challenge from China.”

Some Japanese government officials privately acknowledge there is no prospect of the project becoming operational during the remainder of the Trump presidency, raising questions about sustained US backing. The seabed mining venture remains a long-term endeavour with no guarantee of commercial viability.

As mines push deeper and geotechnical conditions grow more complex, the need for reliable ground support monitoring data has become increasingly pressing. Both xCell Banshee and xCell Hydra are integrated into Sandvik’s Digital Ground Support Platform, a cloud-based system that enables mine operators to collect, analyse and act on real-time information about ground conditions, rock bolt status and asset integrity.

Osvaldo Vallati, Product Manager Digital Products, Ground Support at Sandvik, said: “Digitalisation is transforming the way mines manage ground support. With xCell Banshee and xCell Hydra, customers gain access to valuable data that enables proactive decision-making, improved workforce utilisation, and a deeper understanding of underground conditions. These solutions help make mining operations safer while optimising the performance and lifecycle of ground support systems.”

Sandvik Introduces Two Digital Ground Support Solutions

The two products each address different aspects of ground support monitoring. Sandvik xCell Banshee focuses on periodic in-service testing and condition assessment of installed bolts, while Sandvik xCell Hydra delivers continuous measurement of consumed capacity in embedded rock bolts. Together, they represent a significant expansion of the digital ground support tools available to geotechnical teams working in underground environments.

Both solutions feed data into the Digital Ground Support Platform, which consolidates essential data, analytics and documentation from multiple digital ground support solutions into a single cloud-based environment. The platform provides mining companies with a comprehensive view of ground support performance, supporting data-driven decisions intended to improve safety, increase operational efficiency and contribute to more sustainable mining operations, according to Sandvik.

The launches at the ACG Caving Conference underscore Sandvik’s stated strategy to digitalise ground support and enhance underground mining safety. By transforming rock bolts into intelligent sources of geotechnical information, Sandvik says these solutions help mining companies move from reactive ground support management to predictive, data-driven decision-making. This approach to mining digitalisation reflects a broader industry shift towards leveraging technology for better geotechnical outcomes.

xCell Banshee Monitors Rock Bolt Capacity

Sandvik xCell Banshee provides digital monitoring of consumed capacity for Sandvik MD and MDX Bolts. The solution enables in-service testing and condition assessment of installed bolts, delivering insights into bolt performance and ground support effectiveness throughout the life of an excavation.

At the core of the solution is a measurable version of the MD and MDX Bolt, which features a unique identification system. This system ensures secure allocation of measurement results within the Digital Ground Support Platform. Sandvik has emphasised that the measurable design requires no changes to the standard bolt installation process, making adoption straightforward for mine operators. The company has stated that this measurable design is planned to become the standard production version of MD and MDX Bolts over time, without additional hardware costs.

By providing visibility into consumed bolt capacity and long-term ground behaviour, xCell Banshee is designed to enable more informed rehabilitation planning, optimised support designs and enhanced mine-wide integrity monitoring, according to Sandvik. The company says geotechnical teams can spend less time collecting data and more time interpreting it, which in turn is intended to improve operational efficiency while reducing rehabilitation costs.

xCell Hydra Enables Continuous Ground Support Monitoring

Sandvik xCell Hydra extends digital monitoring capabilities further through continuous measurement of consumed capacity in embedded rock bolts. The solution combines instrumented bolts with an intelligent battery-powered data logger, enabling reliable real-time data collection and wireless transmission of critical ground support information.

Multiple configurable measurement points along each bolt provide a detailed deformation profile and visibility into bolt performance over time. The system supports connecting up to nine bolts to a single data logger and uses the same installation process as a standard bolt, which Sandvik says simplifies deployment in underground environments.

Working alongside xCell Professor drive-by data collection technology, xCell Hydra enables efficient collection of ground support monitoring data at speeds of up to 30 km/h, allowing mines to obtain continuous insights while minimising operational disruption. The resulting data supports ground support optimisation, validation of installation tensioning, improved understanding of seismic and ground movement behaviour, and more effective rehabilitation planning, according to Sandvik.

The combination of both xCell Banshee and xCell Hydra within the Digital Ground Support Platform gives mining operations a layered approach to digital ground support, blending periodic assessment with continuous monitoring to build a more complete picture of underground ground conditions over time.

The Bambadji Gold Project comprises two properties covering approximately 190 square kilometres. The land package extends across roughly 60 kilometres of prospective ground along the Senegal-Mali Shear Zone, a major gold corridor that already hosts several large-scale mining operations. Bambadji sits adjacent to Fortuna’s Diamba Sud Gold Project, which is currently at the feasibility stage and contains mineral reserves of about 1.15 million ounces of gold. Fortuna expects to make a final investment decision on Diamba Sud shortly.

Jorge A. Ganoza, President and CEO of Fortuna Mining, said the $200 million consideration reflects multiple prime drill-defined targets, the scale of the land package, the extensive historical exploration dataset, and the potential to materially expand Diamba Sud.

Fortuna paid the full consideration in cash from its treasury. Of the total, $130.35 million was directed to a Barrick subsidiary and $69.65 million to an IAMGOLD subsidiary. The sellers will retain a 0.5% net smelter return royalty on the first 1.75 million ounces of gold produced from the Bambadji Nord property.

Fortuna Acquires Bambadji Gold Project for $200 Million

The acquisition gives Fortuna Mining control of a substantial exploration package directly connected to the same geological structure that underpins Diamba Sud. The company indicated that the Bambadji Gold Project could provide additional exploration opportunities and potentially expand the scope of the planned Diamba Sud operation.

With the deal now completed, Fortuna’s growing cluster of Senegal gold projects positions the company to pursue gold exploration Senegal across an extensive and geologically favourable area. The combination of Bambadji and Diamba Sud creates a contiguous land holding along the Senegal-Mali Shear Zone, offering access to multiple targets that have already been identified through historical exploration work.

Bambadji Exploration Programme Targets 51,000 Metres

Fortuna Mining has approved an initial exploration budget of $8 million for the Bambadji Gold Project covering the remainder of 2026. The programme is designed to include approximately 51,000 metres of reverse-circulation and diamond drilling, with field activities expected to commence in the third quarter.

The company plans to concentrate early-stage drilling on several advanced drill-defined targets located within a 20-kilometre radius of the proposed Diamba Sud processing plant. This approach reflects Fortuna’s strategy to prioritise targets that could feed directly into the planned processing infrastructure at Diamba Sud.

Diamba Sud is expected to produce an average of 158,000 ounces of gold annually during its first four years, before settling to an average of 116,000 ounces over an estimated 9.4-year mine life. The proximity of the Bambadji Gold Project to this planned operation could allow Fortuna to expand the resource base supporting the future mine without requiring entirely separate infrastructure.

Senegal Expands Role in Fortuna’s West Africa Portfolio

The Bambadji acquisition strengthens Fortuna Mining’s position in Senegal at a time when the company has been actively reshaping its broader West Africa gold mining portfolio. Fortuna recently sold its Yaramoko gold mine in Burkina Faso to a private local company for $130 million. That sale reduced annual gold production by approximately 70,000 ounces, but Ganoza stated the offer was attractive given the mine’s declining reserves and increasing operating risks.

The decision to divest in Burkina Faso and invest more heavily in Senegal gold projects reflects the shifting risk landscape across the region. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have all experienced military coups since 2020 and have moved to increase state participation in their mining sectors. In Mali, tensions between authorities and foreign mining companies have included the detention of executives and the seizure of gold inventories. Barrick, for instance, halted operations after Malian authorities confiscated approximately three tonnes of gold worth roughly $245 million.

Against this backdrop, Fortuna’s deepening commitment to gold exploration Senegal through both the Bambadji acquisition and the advancement of Diamba Sud represents a deliberate portfolio rebalancing towards a jurisdiction perceived as more stable. The company’s combined Senegal gold projects now form the centrepiece of its West Africa gold mining strategy, anchored by a feasibility-stage development and a newly acquired exploration package spanning 190 square kilometres of prospective ground.

The momentum around Project Crucible follows a recent announcement by US President Donald Trump, who introduced a $3 billion critical minerals investment package during a roundtable on the American mining industry held at the US Department of State in Washington. The announcement reflects growing US efforts to strengthen competitiveness across advanced industries including defence, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and batteries by expanding domestic processing and refining capacity and securing raw materials at home.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick drew specific attention to Project Crucible during the event, identifying Korea Zinc’s Tennessee smelter as a key example of how government tariffs and federal policy can attract world-class industrial firms to build essential infrastructure in the United States. Lutnick described critical minerals as not merely an economic concern but a national security issue, stating that the US cannot depend on foreign adversaries if it intends to lead in advanced manufacturing, AI, semiconductors, energy and defence.

“Our objective is very simple. We’re going to mine here. We’re going to process here. We’re going to refine here. We’re going to manufacture here,” Lutnick said.

Project Crucible Gains US Government Support

Korea Zinc is advancing execution of Project Crucible through Crucible Zinc, its US joint venture backed by major equity investments from the US Departments of Defense and Commerce. Washington’s financial stake in the venture underscores the project’s critical role in national security planning.

Demonstrating this strategic alignment, Project Crucible became the first South Korean-led initiative to receive designation under FAST-41, a federal framework designed to streamline environmental and administrative permitting for key infrastructure projects. The FAST-41 designation highlights Korea Zinc’s refining capabilities as an essential pillar of US economic security and frames the project as a hybrid model combining US resources, infrastructure and policy backing with Korean technology and operational expertise.

Tennessee Smelter Targets Multiple Critical Minerals

One of the most significant advantages of the planned Tennessee smelter under Project Crucible is its ability to produce 12 nonferrous metals along with semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid through a single integrated processing system. According to Korea Zinc, 11 of those metals are among the 60 critical minerals designated by the US government. The metals include zinc, lead, copper, silver, antimony, indium, bismuth, tellurium, palladium, gallium and germanium.

Among these, gallium, germanium, indium and antimony hold particular strategic importance owing to their applications in semiconductors, defence, telecommunications and energy. For the United States, the ability to recover multiple critical minerals from one integrated facility could improve the efficiency of supply chain development. For Korea, the project could expand bilateral ties beyond semiconductors, batteries and automobiles into critical minerals processing and refining stages of the supply chain.

Korea Zinc also plans to process approximately 620,000 tonnes of smelting byproducts accumulated across five pond sites at the Tennessee location. Industry observers say combining these existing assets with Korea Zinc’s refining expertise could help accelerate commercial production. Leveraging existing infrastructure, local workers and established feedstock networks could reduce the time and risks typically associated with developing a new facility from scratch.

Korea Zinc Brings Refining Expertise to US Project

Korea Zinc has spent decades operating its Onsan smelter in Ulsan, producing zinc, lead and copper while developing technologies to process complex, low-grade feedstocks and recover rare and valuable metals from smelting byproducts. That deep operational experience in critical minerals processing positions the company to contribute meaningfully to Washington’s initiative to build a more integrated critical minerals supply chain.

The Tennessee smelter project reflects a broader convergence of US policy ambitions and Korean industrial expertise. By pairing federal investment and regulatory support with Korea Zinc’s proven refining technology, Project Crucible represents an approach that draws on both nations’ strengths to address what Washington views as a pressing national security and economic challenge in the critical minerals space.

The programme, formally titled Providing Opportunities for Specialised Education in Critical Technologies (PROSPECT), represents a significant federal investment in mining education and workforce development. It targets a sector where skilled labour demand continues to outpace supply.

$100 Million PROSPECT Initiative Targets Labour Shortages

According to the Department of Energy, the United States will require approximately 6,000 new mining engineers over the next decade. Beyond engineering, there is also considerable demand for professionals in materials science, processing and recycling — disciplines that are central to maintaining a functioning critical minerals supply chain.

The PROSPECT initiative aims to double the number of graduates earning degrees in mining, minerals and supply-chain technologies. To achieve this, the programme envisions new curricula, modern teaching tools, scholarships, financial aid and incentives designed to sustain long-term enrolment and support industry growth. The critical minerals workforce expansion effort is part of broader federal measures to strengthen domestic supply chains and reduce reliance on foreign sources for essential materials.

US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said the initiative reflects a commitment to rebuilding the nation’s industrial base. “A strong domestic mining and minerals workforce is essential to powering America’s future, strengthening our national security, and ending our dependence on foreign adversaries,” Wright stated. “Through the PROSPECT initiative, the Department is investing in the next generation of American engineers, scientists, and skilled workers.”

Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson described the programme as an unprecedented investment. “PROSPECT invites them to work at the intersection of cutting-edge science and their country’s highest strategic priorities,” Robertson said. “This unprecedented investment will funnel homegrown talent into fulfilling, high-demand careers at the forefront of America’s industrial renaissance.”

Accredited Mining Schools Central to Workforce Expansion

The PROSPECT initiative draws on the network of 14 accredited mining engineering programmes across the United States. These institutions form the backbone of the country’s mining education infrastructure and are expected to play a key role in scaling up the critical minerals workforce pipeline.

Friday’s announcement was described as a historic milestone for the mining industry. It marked the sector’s first White House invitation since 1910 under President Taft and the first occasion in history that schools of mines were included.

Montana Technological University, home to one of the 14 accredited mining engineering programmes, was among the invited institutions. The university offers academic pathways including an associate degree in Mining Technology as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mining Engineering. Montana Tech also operates the Underground Mine Education Centre, the nation’s only campus-based underground training facility, which spans over 3,000 feet of underground workings and supports research in underground mining methods, rock mechanics, ventilation, mine safety and geothermal energy utilisation.

Chancellor Johnny MacLean, who attended the announcement alongside faculty and students, said the DOE initiative aligns with the university’s mission. “This DOE initiative directly aligns with our purpose to meet America’s emerging needs by preparing the next generation of STEM leaders to secure our nation’s most vital supply chain and energy security needs,” MacLean stated.

Federal Investment Seeks to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply Chain

The $100 million commitment through the PROSPECT initiative underscores the scale of the challenge facing the critical minerals workforce in the United States. With demand for mining engineers, materials scientists and recycling specialists projected to grow considerably, the programme is structured to build sustained educational capacity rather than offer short-term solutions.

By combining financial support for students with curriculum modernisation and enhanced teaching infrastructure, the initiative seeks to make careers in mining and critical minerals more accessible and attractive to the next generation of professionals. The critical minerals supply chain stands to benefit from a larger and more diverse talent pool entering the sector over the coming decade.

The DOE’s investment reflects the growing recognition that securing domestic critical minerals supply chains depends not only on resource availability but also on developing the skilled critical minerals workforce needed to extract, process and recycle those materials within the United States.