The US government has expanded the programme to accelerate domestic production of critical minerals by adding ten new projects to the federal permitting dashboard under the FAST-41 programme. 

This second tranche includes ventures such as Glencore and Teck Resources' NorthMet copper/nickel project in Minnesota and Sibanye Stillwater's Stillwater mine expansion in Montana.

The FAST-41 designation aims to streamline the federal permitting process, enhancing transparency and accountability, explains acting executive director of the federal permitting improvement steering council Manisha Patel.

Inclusion on the permitting dashboard as a transparency project makes the environmental review and authorisations schedule for these vital mineral production projects publicly available and allows all of these projects to benefit from increased transparency.

The NorthMet project, managed by NewRange Copper Nickel – a joint venture between Glencore and Teck – has been recognised for its potential to bolster the US supply chain for essential minerals like copper and nickel. "From the copper essential for grid transmission, data centers, AI advancements and medical devices to the nickel needed for consumer electronic batteries, the minerals found at NewRange are the backbone of America’s 21st century economy," said NewRange president and general manager Tannice McCoy.

Similarly, Sibanye Stillwater's Stillwater mine, located in Montana, has been added to the FAST-41 list, highlighting its role in producing palladium and platinum group metals vital for catalytic converters and hydrogen technologies.

Other notable projects in this batch include Energy Fuels' La Jara Mesa uranium project in New Mexico, Hecla Mining's Greens Creek silver exploration in Alaska, and Chemours' titanium dioxide project in Georgia. 

These additions build upon the initial ten projects announced in April, which featured ventures like Rio Tinto's Resolution Copper project in Arizona and Albemarle's Silver Peak lithium mine in Nevada.

The FAST-41 programme is designed to improve the coordination and timeliness of federal environmental reviews for infrastructure projects. While the designation does not guarantee permit approvals, it provides a structured timeline and increased transparency, facilitating a more efficient permitting process.

South32’s Hermosa zinc/manganese project in Arizona was fast-tracked by the Biden administration, the first mine to receive the FAST-41 designation.

The inclusion of these projects aligns with the administration's broader strategy to reduce reliance on foreign sources for critical minerals, particularly in light of global supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions.