Pentagon Backs New Hampshire Refinery to Replace Chinese Military Minerals

Concord, Monday, 3 August 2026.
To counter the rapid depletion of missile stockpiles and end reliance on Chinese critical minerals, the U.S. Department of Defense has issued a $500 million loan to New Hampshire refinery Phoenix Tailings. The facility uses electrolysis to extract essential rare earth elements—such as samarium and neodymium—directly from mining waste and recycled materials. This domestic supply chain initiative requires the refinery to scale its production from a modest 200 kilograms per year to 120 tonnes by 2028, beginning with an immediate push to reach five tonnes within three months. Catalyzed by a recent executive order prohibiting Chinese components in military equipment, this project seeks to secure the supply chains for critical defense systems, including Tomahawk cruise missiles and F-35 fighter jets, ensuring long-term defense independence.