美国国防部战略资本办公室向澳大利亚矿业公司Sunrise Energy Metals的Syerston钪矿项目提供4亿美元（5.6亿澳元）融资[1]。这笔投资是美国总统特朗普宣布的30亿美元关键矿产和电池项目投资计划的一部分[2]。白宫称该项目为"世界首个原生钪矿"[1]，项目位于新南威尔士州中西部Fifield附近[1]。
钪是用于战斗机、航天器等防御工具的关键稀有金属[1]。目前全球钪供应主要来自中国、俄罗斯和乌克兰，美国自1969年以来未开采钪[1]。美国钪产量占全球约20%，但加工占不足1%，而对手占全球产量约80%和加工近100%[1]。特朗普表示，关键矿产是美国实力的原材料，为先进武器、汽车等各种产品提供动力[2]，目标是推动国内生产，重塑美国作为世界矿产超级大国的地位[2]。
Lockheed Martin与Sunrise达成协议，承诺在5年内购买高达15吨氧化钪[1]。新南威尔士州拥有全球最高浓度的钪储量[1]。Sunrise去年获得美国进出口银行6700万美元债务融资意向书[1]，新州政府也允许该项目缓交特许权税5年[1]。美澳两国已承诺为关键矿物项目各提供至少10亿美元[1]，澳大利亚去年宣布创建12亿澳元的战略储备基金[1]。
The U.S. Department of Defense is providing $400 million in funding to support the Syerston scandium mining project operated by Sunrise Energy Metals in central-western New South Wales, Australia, near Fifield [1]. The investment, announced by President Trump on Friday Washington time, is part of a broader $3 billion federal commitment to critical minerals and battery projects [2].
Scandium is a rare metal essential for defense applications, including fighter jets and spacecraft [1]. The Syerston project represents what the White House describes as the world's first primary scandium mine [1]. Under a separate agreement, Lockheed Martin has committed to purchasing up to 15 tonnes of scandium oxide over five years from the facility [1]. The United States currently produces approximately 20 percent of global scandium but accounts for less than 1 percent of processing capacity, while competitors control roughly 80 percent of global production and nearly 100 percent of processing [1]. The nation has not mined scandium domestically since 1969 [1].
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated the investment reflects broader U.S. strategy, saying, "We will ensure that America, not our adversaries, controls the supply chains for energy and critical minerals" [1]. New South Wales contains the world's highest concentration of scandium reserves [1]. Supporting the project, Sunrise Energy Metals previously received a $67 million conditional debt financing letter of intent from the U.S. Export-Import Bank [1], and the New South Wales government has granted a five-year deferral on royalty payments [1]. Both the U.S. and Australian governments have committed to contributing at least $1 billion each toward critical minerals projects [1].