Clarios, a manufacturer and recycler of low-voltage batteries, recently revealed its plans to select a site for an investment of up to $1 billion in a critical minerals processing and recovery plant in the U.S. The company has completed preliminary site assessments, and Indiana, Texas, and Utah are being considered as potential investment locations.
Critical minerals, such as antimony, play a role in various defense and military applications. Antimony is crucial to the production of ammunition, night vision goggles, infrared sensors, and precision optics. The extraction and processing of these minerals can reduce the U.S.'s reliance on foreign sources and ensure a stable and secure supply chain. The company said this is particularly important given the current geopolitical landscape and the increasing demand for advanced defense technologies.
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Clarios said its strategy aligns with the administration's focus on bolstering the domestic supply of critical minerals. The administration has emphasized the importance of these minerals for national security and economic growth, as highlighted in recent executive orders aimed at increasing supply and reducing dependence on foreign sources. By investing in critical mineral processing and recovery, Clarios is supporting these national security priorities and contributing to the resilience of the U.S. supply chain.
Clarios' $6 billion American energy manufacturing strategy places emphasis on critical minerals processing and recovery, with up to $1.9 billion allocated to advancing this effort. The new critical mineral processing and recovery plant will use technologies to extract antimony and other critical minerals from recycled materials, improving both the efficiency and sustainability of the recycling process. The selected site has the potential to serve as a hub for future investments in low-critical mineral advanced battery manufacturing and next-generation technology development to bolster the U.S. battery supply chain while reserving critical minerals for national defense.
"We're excited to announce the next step in our strategy to increase our investment in the United States," Mark Wallace, CEO of Clarios, said. "This initiative reflects our deep commitment to sustainability, innovation, and building resilient supply chains. By advancing our recycling capabilities and deploying cutting-edge technologies, we're not only strengthening the domestic supply of critical minerals, we're also supporting national security and a more sustainable future."
