U.S. Defense Department Seeks Information on Key Mineral Reserves

The U.S. Department of Defense is actively seeking information on reserves of five critical minerals as part of efforts to mitigate supply chain risks and bolster domestic raw material stocks. According to Jin10, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) issued a notice on Wednesday requesting details from potential suppliers regarding lithium, nickel, tin, chromium, and tellurium. The inquiry covers supplier intentions, product specifications, material sources, and market conditions. The DLA, responsible for managing the National Defense Stockpile, aims to ensure the availability of metals essential for U.S. military needs. The agency is exploring potential procurement plans for 550 tons of lithium carbonate, 3,500 tons of nickel, 1,978 tons of London Metal Exchange-grade tin, 37 tons of tellurium, and 4,500 short tons of chromium. Additionally, the agency is consulting on the reprocessing or remelting of 1,978 tons of tin ingots affected by 'tin pest.' Based on LME prices, the cost of this tin batch is estimated to be close to $100 million.