The US government has taken two major steps to advance development in Alaska’s remote Ambler Mining District — approving the long-delayed Ambler road project and taking an equity stake in Trilogy Metals, a partner in the Ambler Metals joint venture with South32.

Located in northwestern Alaska above the Arctic Circle, the Ambler Mining District is one of the richest undeveloped sources of copper, zinc, lead, cobalt and silver in the US. These minerals are considered critical for clean energy technologies and national defence. However, the region’s isolation has long been a barrier to development, with no existing transport route connecting it to Alaska’s broader road network.

The newly approved Ambler road project aims to address that challenge. It is a proposed 211 mile controlled industrial access road that would link the Ambler Mining District to Alaska’s Dalton highway, providing year-round transportation for equipment, supplies and ore.

The project, led by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, is seen as essential to unlocking the mineral potential of the region while also generating jobs and economic activity for nearby rural communities.

South32 on October 7 confirmed that the US Department of War (DoW), through its Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisitions and Sustainment and the Office of Strategic Capital, will invest in Trilogy Metals to support exploration and development in the district.

Meanwhile, Ambler Metals welcomed US President Donald Trump’s decision under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act to issue all the necessary federal permits for the Ambler road, reversing the prior administration’s “no action” stance.

Under the new agreement, South32 will sell 8.2-million shares in Trilogy Metals to the US DoW for about $17.8-million and issue a ten-year call option allowing the department to acquire an additional 6.1-million shares at $0.01 a share, exercisable only after completion of the Ambler road.

South32 said it will reinvest the proceeds from the share sale into Ambler Metals to fund further exploration and development. The transaction will not change South32’s interest in Ambler Metals and, following the deal, the company will retain more than 10.3-million shares in Trilogy Metals.

South32 CEO Graham Kerr said the company welcomed the US government’s involvement in developing the Ambler region.

“We see great value in the US government's intention to develop the Ambler Mining District. It is our aim to unlock the potential we see in this region and secure critical mineral supply chains for the US and create enduring economic activity and shared value for Alaska, particularly for communities in the surrounding region,” he said.

Ambler Metals MD Kaleb Froehlich described the approval of the Ambler road project as a crucial step in enabling resource development in the district.

“We thank . . . Trump, his administration and members of Congress for recognising the importance of the Ambler road to Alaska and to the nation. This road will help secure the critical minerals our country needs for economic competitiveness and national defence, while also delivering meaningful benefits here at home.

“For rural Alaskans, this road represents opportunity, [well]-paying jobs, essential revenues for remote communities and a chance to build a more resilient local economy. It’s a pathway to both national strength and regional prosperity,” Froehlich said on October 6.

He added that Ambler Metals remains committed to working with Alaska native corporations, including the Northwest Alaska Native Association Regional Corporation and Doyon, as well as local communities and tribal partners to ensure the project maintains public support.

“We believe that no project in the Ambler Mining District can move forward without the enduring and lasting support of the people who live there. Social license isn’t just a goal – it’s the foundation of how we operate. We are committed to ensuring that local communities see real, lasting benefits from this road in the form of jobs, investment, and opportunities for future generations,” he said.