US coal and critical minerals producer Ramaco Resources has approved plans to establish what it calls the first national strategic stockpile of rare earth elements (REE) and critical minerals at its Brook mine in Wyoming.

The proposed Strategic Critical Minerals Terminal (SCMT) will be developed in partnership with a nationally recognised commodity structuring and financial adviser. The facility will serve both public and private sectors by providing secure and reliable access to REE and other minerals considered important to US industry and defence.

Ramaco said the stockpile would be managed as a state-of-the-art terminal, offering long-term storage and inventory management of critical materials. The company intends to process its own rare earths and minerals and offer tolling services for third-party producers, strengthening domestic supply chains.

“The SCMT stockpile will provide long-term strategic stockpiling, storage, and inventory management solutions for Ramaco’s broad basket of critical minerals and rare earths,” the company said.

The Brook mine, located near Sheridan, benefits from direct access to a BNSF railroad line and proximity to an interstate highway, which Ramaco said would facilitate efficient distribution to defence contractors and industrial users across the country.

The project will anchor Ramaco’s downstream capital expenditure and financing on offtake contracts, with the company suggesting that it could generate stable, annuity-like cash flows and serve as a national infrastructure asset.

Ramaco’s Brook mine covers about 6 394 ha, of which 1 821 ha are currently permitted. The company plans to seek approval to expand mining to the remaining area and has acquired additional land nearby to support future development and storage.

The mine is believed to be one of the world’s only primary sources of scandium, gallium and germanium, and also hosts heavy rare earths such as dysprosium and terbium, as well as light rare earths neodymium and praseodymium.

Ramaco’s board has approved a plan to increase projected oxide production to 3 400 t/y, a 174% increase over the 1 240 t/y estimated in a preliminary economic analysis by Fluor. The higher output target aligns with the company’s plan to lift coal production from two-million to five-million tons a year.

A technical report summary by Weir estimates 1.4-million tons of total rare earth oxide resources within the permitted area, including gallium, scandium and germanium. Ramaco expects the figure to rise as further exploration work continues.

Ramaco said the stockpile forms part of its commitment to strengthening the US critical minerals supply chain, supporting national security, and advancing domestic rare earth production.

Headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, Ramaco operates four metallurgical coal mining complexes in Central Appalachia and is developing the Brook mine as a coal, rare earth and critical minerals project.