Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte helped break ground Thursday on part of an ongoing expansion of a critical mineral mining and processing operation in Thompson Falls whose owners earlier this week secured a $245 million federal contract to supply the National Defense Stockpile.
The expansion of the smelter facility at the United States Antimony Corporation’s operation in Thompson Falls — the only operating antimony smelter in the U.S. — was announced in April. The company said at the time it would expand the site’s production by six-fold, cost under $15 million, create 25 new jobs and put out more than 300 standard tons of metals per month.
Antimony is used in munitions and explosives, batteries, retardants, ammunition, semiconductors and more. The U.S. government says China controls about 85% of global antimony production, and the Department of Defense had been seeking partners to produce more of the critical mineral to support U.S. security and domestic energy.
It awarded the company, which also operates North America’s only other antimony smelter in Mexico, a five-year, $245 million sole-source contract to produce antimony metal to replenish the National Defense Stockpile.
The company has mining operations in Montana and Alaska, the latter of which only recently started producing, but which the company said showed high-grade minerals and antimony concentrations.
“It’s incredibly meaningful for all our employees to play such a strategic role in strengthening our nation’s defense readiness and having the knowledge, expertise, and history that USAC can and will deliver under our contractual obligations,” USAC CEO Gary C. Evans said in a statement.
The smelter in Thompson Falls can produce up to 5 million pounds of antimony metal each year, according to the company, which can be used for bearings, batteries and ordnances. It is also capable of producing up to 15 million pounds of antimony oxide a year, used in flame retardants, paint and fluorescent light bulbs. The smelter processes silver and gold as well.
Gianforte said in a statement the smelter expansion was another sign of Montana leading the way in critical mineral production. He and the Republican congressional delegation have also been pushing to expand palladium mining and smelting operations at the Sibanye-Stillwater Mine near Columbus. Both efforts, officials say, would help create a better domestic critical mineral supply and reduce reliance on China for key parts for electronics, defense and energy.
“We cannot and must not be reliant upon China for these minerals. That’s why President Trump, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and others have made the production of critical minerals like antimony a top priority,” Gianforte said. “With Montana’s rich tradition of mining, we can and should be a national leader.”
The governor’s newly created Unleashing American-Made Energy Task Force held its first meeting earlier this week. Gianforte tasked its members with coming up with recommendations on how the state can increase energy options.
Evans said the DoD contract and expansion would be beneficial for Montana and the U.S. military.
“This significant expansion, along with new innovations being implemented, underscores USAC’s ability to move swiftly in an effort to respond to shifts and demands for not only our industrial customers, but now our U.S. Military,” he said in a statement.
Blair Miller is the editor for the Montana State News Bureau. Prior to that, he was a reporter at the Daily Montanan and a digital reporter, editor and photojournalist at TV news outlets in Denver, Albuquerque and mid-Missouri.
You must be logged in to react.
Click any reaction to login.
Love
0
Funny
0
Wow
0
Sad
0
Angry
1
Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!
Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Blair Miller
Montana State News Bureau Editor
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
Your notification has been saved.
There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don’t have an account? Sign Up Today