Challenge
As global demand soars for critical minerals, building a reliable and diversified supply chain will be essential for the industries of the future. Lithium, cobalt, and nickel are all used across the energy, technology, and national security sectors.
The United States is heavily reliant on imports of these minerals, and global supply chains are vulnerable to supply chain bottlenecks and geopolitical risk. Currently, China controls a substantial portion of the critical mineral mining and processing markets, including well over half the global capacity to process and refine cobalt, and to refine and produce rare earth elements. China has controlled as much as 90 percent of the global production capacity for rare earths. And Beijing has suggested it will impose export restrictions on rare earths to the United States.
Solution and Impact
DFC is investing equity in a project that will help TechMet Limited increase production and strengthen the supply chains of critical minerals.
In Brazil, DFC’s $30 million investment is supporting the development of a critical mineral mining facility that will produce nickel and cobalt for the industries of the future. The project is designed to bolster U.S. supply chains for these essential minerals and strengthen U.S. relations with Brazil, particularly cooperation with its Ministry of Mines and Energy.
TechMet is a leading technology metals investment company with a portfolio of assets that produce, process, and recycle the critical metals used in energy, transportation, and related industries to diversify the global supply chain.
This project was profiled in 2024.