Copyright OilPrice
The escalating geopolitical competition over critical mineral supply chains has driven a major corporate maneuver, as REalloys Inc., a company focused on establishing a North American mine-to-magnet rare earth pipeline, announced it has appointed Stephen S. duMont, president of GM Defense, as its non-executive chairman of the board of directors. The move links one of North America’s leading defense industry figures directly to the effort to secure the materials essential for advanced military and green energy technologies. REalloys, which is in the process of merging with Blackboxstocks Inc. (NASDAQ: BLBX) is seeking to build a supply chain free of dependency on Chinese processing capacity, a strategic goal increasingly prioritized by Washington and Ottawa. Tying Industrial Capacity to National Security Mr. duMont brings three decades of experience in defense, aerospace, and national security, including senior executive roles at Raytheon Technologies, BAE Systems, and Boeing, in addition to his distinguished service as a U.S. Army attack helicopter pilot. His appointment signals a clear intent by REalloys to align its commercial growth directly with allied defense modernization efforts. The company is focused on the vertical integration of rare earth elements, which are vital components in high-performance magnets used across the defense industrial base—from precision-guided missiles to radar systems—as well as in commercial products like electric vehicle motors and wind turbines. The announcement follows REalloys' recent commitment of a 10-year, 6.75 million ton offtake agreement with Critical Metals Corp. (NASDAQ: CRML) and a strategic supply commitment with St George Mining Limited (ASX: SGQ). “REalloys stands at the heart of an effort critical to freedom, prosperity, and autonomy across the Western world,” said Stephen S. duMont, non-executive chairman of REalloys. He noted that the company is actively "driving a coordinated effort under Title 50 authorities, to ensure allied defense modernization, and broader U.S.–Canadian defense alignment to reinforce the supply chains that underpin both national and economic security." The North American Imperative The global critical minerals market remains overwhelmingly dominated by China, which processes the vast majority of rare earth elements into usable metal and magnet forms. This concentration has spurred the United States and Canada to invest heavily in creating resilient, Western-aligned alternatives. REalloys is promoting a framework defined by its “no Chinese nexus” supply chain, aiming to keep processing, separation, refining, and magnet manufacturing entirely within North America or allied nations. This continental strategy is intended to be synergistic with major U.S.-Canadian initiatives, including NORAD modernization and the deepening of defense-industrial integration through cooperative agreements. REalloys CEO Lipi Sternheim, the company’s founder and former executive chairman, stated that Mr. duMont’s defense background provides a unique perspective. “His depth of experience with global defense systems and government relations will strengthen our ability to advance North America’s security and industrial resilience,” Sternheim said, adding that Mr. duMont’s guidance would help position REalloys “as a bridge between national defense priorities and the manufacturing capacity that underpins them.” The new chairman joins an already robust board that includes former Canadian Ambassador to the United States David MacNaughton and former Premier of Saskatchewan Brad Wall, further cementing the company’s focus on policy, diplomacy, and industrial competitiveness within the U.S.-Canadian economic framework. Executive Transition In conjunction with the appointment, REalloys announced a change in its executive suite, with David Argyle resigning as Chief Executive Officer and director. Founder Lipi Sternheim stepped into the CEO role, a transition the company attributes to its goal of rapidly scaling its vertically integrated operation to meet the demand for secure rare earth magnet capacity. The strategic leadership changes underscore the high-stakes environment in which critical mineral companies now operate, where corporate growth is increasingly inseparable from national security objectives. The confluence of defense leadership and industrial supply chain efforts reflects the West's broader push for self-reliance in the materials that power both its economy and its military capabilities. Other companies to keep an eye on in the critical mineral race General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) is one of the world’s largest automakers and a pivotal force in America’s industrial base, bridging the commercial and defense sectors through cutting-edge mobility innovation. The company’s role in the energy transition is underscored by its massive investment in electric vehicles, battery technology, and domestic manufacturing. Through its Ultium battery platform, GM has built a vertically integrated EV supply chain spanning battery cells, modules, and packs — and has partnered with key material suppliers such as MP Materials and Lithium Americas to secure critical mineral inputs within North America. Beyond its consumer operations, GM Defense, a wholly owned subsidiary, has become a cornerstone of the company’s diversification strategy. It designs and delivers advanced, electrified, and autonomous defense and government mobility solutions for the U.S. military and allied partners. Recent projects include the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) based on Chevrolet’s Colorado ZR2 platform, and the development of electric tactical vehicles using Ultium battery technology — efforts that directly align with the Pentagon’s modernization and energy resilience goals. This dual commercial-defense strategy positions GM as far more than a traditional automaker. By combining industrial scale, advanced manufacturing, and proprietary energy technologies, GM is re-establishing the United States as a global leader in both clean transportation and next-generation defense mobility. The company’s ability to merge innovation across its automotive and defense divisions makes it a strategic asset in the broader context of national security, supply chain resilience, and technological sovereignty. MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP) is the operator of the Mountain Pass mine in California, the only rare earth mining and processing facility of scale in North America. The company is primarily focused on producing neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr), which is essential for manufacturing the high-strength permanent magnets that power electric vehicle traction motors, wind turbines, and robotics. Its operation at Mountain Pass, one of the world's richest rare earth deposits, represents a crucial step in re-establishing a domestic supply chain for these strategic elements, a capability that had been largely lost to foreign competitors over the past few decades. The company's existence is a key strategic advantage for the U.S. and its allies, as rare earth elements are non-substitutable in many high-tech and military applications. By localizing the production of raw materials, MP Materials addresses a significant point of vulnerability in the Western manufacturing base, providing a secure alternative to offshore supply. This effort is seen as vital for the ongoing energy transition and for maintaining technological superiority in the global arena. MP Materials is aggressively moving toward full vertical integration by advancing its Stage III plan to manufacture finished magnets in the United States. It has begun NdPr metal production at its new facility in Fort Worth, Texas, which is a major step toward creating a complete mine-to-magnet supply chain. Furthermore, the company has secured high-profile commercial agreements, including a long-term supply contract with General Motors for its electric vehicle magnets, cementing its role as a fundamental supplier to America's industrial future. Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) is the world's largest producer of lithium, a material foundational to the lithium-ion batteries that power nearly all modern electric transportation and energy storage systems. The company operates a globally diversified portfolio that includes hard rock mines in Australia, brine operations in Chile, and the Silver Peak brine operation in Nevada—the only active lithium-producing resource in the U.S. The global transition away from fossil fuels places Albemarle in a uniquely significant position, as the energy storage industry cannot meet its goals without a massive and reliable supply of lithium. By controlling a substantial portion of the world’s output and possessing advanced processing capabilities, the company is a primary enabler of the electric vehicle revolution. The company is significantly investing in expanding its operational footprint across its global segments to keep pace with soaring demand. In North Carolina, Albemarle is working to reopen its historic Kings Mountain hard rock mine, and it is also expanding its conversion capacities in the U.S. and abroad. These investments are driven by a strategy to increase resource diversity and production volumes, signaling a clear commitment to maintaining its leadership role as a foundational supplier to the Western battery supply chain for the foreseeable future. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX) is a major international mining company with world-class assets primarily focused on the production of copper, gold, and molybdenum. While it is often viewed through the lens of traditional mining, its massive copper output is what places it squarely in the critical minerals discussion. Copper is arguably the most essential metal for electrification, vital for every part of the energy transition, from electrical wiring and transmission lines to wind turbines and electric vehicle components. The company's importance stems from copper's unmatched electrical conductivity and the sheer volume of the metal required to support a modern, electrified economy. Every electric vehicle uses approximately four times more copper than a conventional car, and the buildout of renewable energy infrastructure requires vast quantities of the metal. Freeport-McMoRan is focusing its capital and operational efforts on maximizing output from its significant, long-lived copper operations, such as the Grasberg complex in Indonesia and its assets in the Americas. The company is particularly focused on expanding its underground mining operations to access deeper, high-grade ore, ensuring a long-term supply pipeline. BHP Group (NYSE: BHP) is a globally diversified resource company with a portfolio that spans iron ore, coal, and petroleum, but its strategic focus has increasingly shifted toward "future-facing commodities" like copper and nickel. The company's massive operational scale and access to long-life assets make it a critical player in securing the raw materials for a lower-carbon future. The sheer size and stability of BHP's operations provide a necessary bulwark against the supply volatility inherent in smaller, riskier projects. Its established presence in key mining jurisdictions, particularly Chile and Australia, helps ensure that the massive amounts of copper and nickel needed to support global decarbonization efforts can be brought to market reliably. In line with its strategic push, the company has been actively seeking out opportunities to expand its copper and nickel footprint. It is a co-owner in the massive Resolution Copper project in Arizona, which, if fully developed, could become a significant source of U.S. copper. BHP is also investing in its Nickel West operations in Australia, with the goal of producing materials suitable for the battery supply chain, cementing its role in powering next-generation technologies. Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO) is a multinational mining giant that produces a wide range of materials, including aluminum, iron ore, and diamonds, but it is aggressively developing its portfolio of battery and critical minerals. Rio Tinto holds one of the world's largest undeveloped lithium projects, Jadar, in Serbia, which underscores its potential to significantly influence the global lithium market should it come to fruition. Moreover, the company’s efforts to recover critical minerals like scandium from waste streams at its existing facilities in Canada demonstrate a commitment to innovative, responsible sourcing. This diversification of supply is crucial for reducing the Western world’s reliance on concentrated supply chains. Beyond its major new lithium project, the company is expanding its copper production, a necessity for global electrification. Rio Tinto is investing $55 million in its Kennecott operations in Utah to start underground mining and significantly expand the production of high-quality copper. In addition, its Resolution Copper joint venture with BHP in Arizona, if approved, has the potential to supply a quarter of the U.S. demand for the metal over a multi-decade span. Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM) is primarily recognized as the world's leading gold company, but it also produces significant quantities of copper as a byproduct and through dedicated operations. Copper is the core critical mineral in Newmont's portfolio, with its output coming from world-class assets across the Americas and Australia. This exposure ensures the company remains relevant to the broader critical minerals discourse, despite its focus on precious metals. The copper produced by a major, established miner like Newmont is vital because of the scale and certainty of its supply. In the race to electrify, every ounce of new copper is crucial, and Newmont’s operations provide a stable, long-term source from politically favorable jurisdictions. The company is leveraging its global presence and technical expertise to maintain and enhance its copper production profile. Newmont has actively acquired and developed operations like the Boddington mine in Australia, which produces both gold and copper, and it continues to invest in projects that will prolong the life and increase the output of its copper assets. Its strategy aims to maximize value from all metals discovered, positioning it to benefit from the soaring demand for both gold and base metals. Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE: LAC) is a pure-play lithium resource developer, centered on its flagship Thacker Pass project in Nevada, which represents one of the largest known lithium resources in the United States. The company's business model is focused on bringing this massive clay-based lithium resource into commercial production to serve the burgeoning North American electric vehicle and battery manufacturing sector. The strategic significance of Lithium Americas is immense, as the Thacker Pass project is a foundational piece of the U.S. effort to establish a comprehensive domestic electric vehicle supply chain. The sheer scale of the resource, coupled with its location within the U.S., directly addresses the critical need for regional supply security and resource independence from foreign nations. This project is seen as a key component of the nation's energy future and a recipient of significant government support. The company has been actively securing the financing and partnerships necessary to move Thacker Pass toward full-scale construction and operation. This includes a significant loan from the Department of Energy, a move that underscores the project's national importance. Critical Metals Corp. (NASDAQ: CRML) is a development-stage mining company focused on advancing a portfolio of strategic assets that contain key critical minerals, notably lithium and rare earth elements. Its primary assets include the Wolfsberg Lithium Project in Austria and the massive Tanbreez rare earth deposit in Greenland. This dual focus positions the company to supply materials crucial for both Europe's electric vehicle manufacturing base and global high-tech industries. The company holds a vital position in European supply chain security, as its Wolfsberg project represents Europe's first fully permitted lithium mine. Having a domestic source of lithium metal is paramount for the European Union's battery manufacturing ambitions and its push for energy independence. Furthermore, the sheer size and heavy rare earth profile of its Tanbreez project are strategically significant, as heavy rare earths are particularly scarce outside of Asia and are vital for advanced defense technologies. The company has been making significant corporate moves to fund and advance its key projects. It recently announced a $50 million PIPE (Private Investment in Public Equity) transaction to support the development of its Tanbreez deposit. Simultaneously, it has been securing long-term offtake agreements with U.S. and European processors, ensuring that a significant portion of its future output is already committed to Western supply chains. By. Michael Scott The AI boom is triggering an unexpected and unprecedented bull run in natural gas and power stocks. If you aren't paying attention to the energy demands of data centers, you will miss the biggest energy story of the decade. The smart money is already quietly moving into the few companies prepared to power the trillion-dollar AI machine. Oilprice Intelligence brings you the inside view on where the next gains will come from, breaking down the market's biggest growth driver with analysis from veteran oilmen and experts. Click here to get this crucial intel for free Important Disclosure: The owner of Oilprice.com owns shares and/or stock options of the company and therefore has an incentive to see the company’s stock perform well. We encourage you to conduct your own due diligence and seek the advice of your financial advisor or broker before investing.
