The United States government is ramping up investment in critical minerals supply chains, with the Department of Energy announcing $500 million for processing, battery manufacturing and recycling projects. The funding initiative also includes new research targeting copper, rare earths and gallium, as Washington seeks to secure supplies deemed increasingly vital to artificial intelligence infrastructure and national reindustrialization efforts. US Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson acknowledged in an interview with MINING.com on September 3, 2026 that while the United States possesses ample copper resources, the nation has "lost our way" when it comes to domestic processing and refining capacity.
Robertson emphasized that copper will play a critical role in meeting growing demand driven by electrification, manufacturing expansion and AI infrastructure development. The timing of these federal efforts coincides with copper trading near record price levels in global markets. Robertson framed America's challenge in securing processing capacity as part of a broader decades-long "battle of economic warfare over resources" that extends well beyond copper alone.
She stressed that the federal government's role should focus on de-risking new projects, while ultimately requiring businesses receiving support to operate profitably without permanent government backing. Source: MINING.com, September 3, 2026
Source: mining.com