Covid-19 outbreak slows US push to produce electric vehicle minerals, rare earths
- Pandemic has fuelled a bunker mentality among some executives
- Coronavirus could cause a year or two’s delay on projects: Morningstar
The Covid-19 pandemic is hobbling US efforts to produce lithium, rare earths and other materials used in electric vehicles and hi-tech equipment, dealing a blow to President Donald Trump’s plan to curb Chinese control of the strategic minerals sector.
As the pandemic has killed about 20,000 across the globe, US junior miners have slowed engineering work, environmental reviews and loan applications.
“We can just hit pause,” said Keith Phillips, chief executive of North Carolina’s Piedmont Lithium.
Piedmont, Lithium Americas and Pioneer, both of which have Nevada projects, have said they now face engineering or regulatory setbacks that could push back mine construction.
Most companies focused on US strategic minerals have large cash reserves after recent stock and bond offerings. While none have yet to report an employee testing positive, the virus has nevertheless fuelled a bunker mentality among some executives.
“[The] Coronavirus could cause a year or two’s delay on projects,” said Seth Goldstein, a minerals analyst at Morningstar. “That helps China right now.”
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The pandemic is just the latest headache for the lithium industry, with prices for the white metal down 37 per cent in the past year due to oversupply concerns, according to data from Benchmark Minerals Intelligence. “The economic fallout from the outbreak will stunt the development of new projects,” said Benchmark’s Andrew Miller.
As the US government turns its focus to the coronavirus, rare earth projects are also left waiting.
The Pentagon last year said it would fund mines using the Defence Production Act, which gives the military wide berth to procure certain equipment. Trump has recently considered using the same law to boost medical supply manufacturing.
But now, US rare earths developers worry the virus could delay any Pentagon decision indefinitely. MP Materials, which runs the only US rare earths mine, remains operational, although it is reliant on China for final processing.
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“As untimely as Covid-19 is, it’s on point with what we’ve been saying – North American independence is needed now,” said Pat Ryan, chairman of UCore Rare Metals, which is developing an Alaska rare earths mine.
Medallion Resources, as well as privately held USA Rare Earth and Texas Mineral Resources, are also waiting on the Pentagon. “We can’t lose sight of all the other things that we need to do at this very busy time for our country,” said Paul Kern, a retired US Army general and USA Rare Earth board member.
