Rare earths developer Pensana has reported that its CEO Tim George and CCO Will Izod recently met with White House National Security Council deputy director for critical and emerging technology David Copley to discuss the establishment of a secure and resilient rare earth supply chain into the US.

The meeting concluded a week of high-level engagements in Washington during which representatives from Pensana and strategic partner ReElement held discussions with a number of government agencies about the potential for the Longonjo rare earths mine, in Angola, to become a strategic supplier of rare earths for processing in the US. 

An important consideration was that Longonjo is on track for first production in early 2027, immediately ahead of the implementation of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, which will limit the import of rare earths supplying the defence sector to allied countries only.

Pensana says its team outlined how one of the largest resources of rare earths in the world, combined with ReElement’s domestic processing capabilities, could provide a long-term secure supply of rare earths from the allied nation of Angola, supporting the development of domestic manufacturing capacity in the US.

The company notes that Copley reaffirmed the US Administration’s commitment to strengthening allied partnerships for critical minerals and confirmed support for initiatives to secure supplies of clean rare earth materials into the US.

The meetings held across Washington included the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the International Development Finance Corporation, the US Trade and Development Agency, the Department of Commerce, the State Department and the Office of Senator Ted Cruz, chair of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy.

"These meetings in Washington are the culmination of many previous discussions and mark an important step in positioning Pensana as a trusted partner to the US for a reliable long-term supply of rare earths.

“We are committed to becoming a sustainable supplier of rare earths and with China continuing to tighten control over global supply there can be no better time to establish an independent supply into the US from a reliable partner,” says Pensana chairperson Paul Atherley.

Pensana says these discussions come at a time when the South China Morning Post has reported that China has announced tightened rules over the mining and processing of rare earths, extending controls to imported minerals and requiring enterprises to report the flow of the strategic materials monthly.

The company explains that the new rules specify that China’s quota system applies not only to domestically produced materials but also to those coming from abroad for refining – a change that some fear could put further pressure on global supply.