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US critical minerals timelines clash with defense sourcing deadlines
Mine development in the US can take more than 30 years, while defense-related sourcing rules are aimed at years-long national security timelines.
North America’s effort to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals is being constrained by bottlenecks beyond permitting, MINING.com reports, with engineering and technical validation taking years before projects can even reach financing and construction.
In the US, moving a mineral deposit from discovery to commercial production can take more than 30 years, involving engineering and validation work, financing and permitting, according to the article. By contrast, defense and procurement objectives typically run on timelines measured in years rather than decades.
The article points to updated Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations requirements taking effect in January 2027 and a Department of Defense enforcement beginning January 1 that would ban Chinese-origin rare earth magnets and constituent materials in covered defense systems. AiMinr CEO Ari Rostami said the deadline is not aligned with current US critical minerals production and highlighted a mismatch between the “generational” mine-development clock and faster national security policy timelines.
Rostami also warned that the risk is not only delays, because commodity markets and technology can shift before domestic mines reach production. He cited cobalt as an example, saying EV-driven expectations for cobalt demand led to new supply interest, but battery makers increasingly moved toward alternatives like cobalt-free lithium-iron-phosphate chemistries.