The US Department of Defense has resumed funding for two projects to process rare earth minerals for military weapons after a review found the grants are in the best interest of the US government, according to documents seen by Reuters.
The Pentagon on April 22 awarded Australia’s Lynas and privately held MP Materials funding for rare earths separation facilities in Texas and California, respectively. Those decisions were put on hold on April 29, the Pentagon said, pending “further research".
Reuters reported in late April that a Chinese company’s minority stake in MP Materials, which owns the only US rare earths mine and is majority-controlled by a Chicago hedge fund, had prompted concerns from U.S. government scientists.