美国国防部承诺向澳大利亚采矿公司Sunrise Energy Metals提供4亿美元贷款，用于在新南威尔士州Fifield镇建设全球首个钪矿一级开采项目[1]。该镇距悉尼约450公里[1]。这一举措旨在确保美国及其盟国国防、航空航天和数据中心所需的关键矿物供应，减少对中国钪供应的依赖[1]。中国去年曾限制了用于防御产品的钪出口[1]。
矿场计划于2028年上半年投产[1]，初期年产能为60吨钪氧化物[1]。Sunrise已与洛克希德·马丁公司达成协议，该防务公司将在前五年获得项目产出的25%[1]。
The US Department of Defense has committed a $400 million loan to Australian mining company Sunrise Energy Metals to develop the world's first primary scandium extraction operation in Fifield, a small town in New South Wales located approximately 450 kilometers from Sydney [1]. The initiative aims to secure critical mineral supplies for American and allied defense, aerospace, and data center applications while reducing dependence on Chinese scandium supplies [1]. China restricted exports of scandium for defense products last year, underscoring the strategic importance of establishing alternative sources [1].
The mining facility is expected to commence operations in the first half of 2028, with an initial annual production capacity of 60 tons of scandium oxide [1]. Sunrise Energy Metals has also secured a commercial partnership with Lockheed Martin, under which the defense contractor will purchase 25 percent of the mine's output for the first five years [1]. This project represents a cornerstone of a broader commitment made in October when US President Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a critical minerals agreement pledging $1 billion in combined investment [1].