The 47G Critical Materials Summit at the U of U highlighted the urgent need for domestic mineral supply chains, policy alignment, and innovation to reduce reliance on foreign sources.
Last week, 47G hosted its Critical Materials Summit at the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium, bringing together leaders from industry, government, and academia to address the nation’s growing mineral supply crisis. The summit emphasized the critical need for domestic production of 40 to 50 essential minerals, the impact of China’s recent export restrictions on germanium, gallium, and antimony, and the broader national security implications of mineral dependence.
Senator Mike Lee: Policy Reform is Key
A video address from U.S. Senator Mike Lee set the stage for the discussions. He stressed that much of the world’s mineral extraction occurs in adversarial nations, creating supply chain vulnerabilities that threaten economic stability and national security.
"We see what happens when we rely on these nations for essential resources: supply chain disruptions, economic vulnerabilities, and national security risks. It’s time to fix that, and Utah is uniquely positioned to lead,” stated Senator Lee.
He highlighted Utah’s wealth of critical minerals, including lithium in the Great Salt Lake and copper from the state’s mines. Lee also introduced the Critical Minerals Consistency Act, co-sponsored with Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), to align the Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) lists of critical minerals.
"Right now, these agencies have separate, inconsistent lists. It doesn’t make sense. Investors need clarity. If we want private investment in domestic production, we need to send a strong signal that the U.S. government is backing these supply chains on national security grounds."
Senator Lee warned that China is accelerating its dominance in mineral processing and refinement, and the U.S. must act decisively to stay competitive.
Dr. Travis Mcling: The Untapped Potential of the Intermountain Region
Dr. Travis Mcling, a Directorate Fellow at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES), highlighted the vast mineral resources in the Intermountain Region.
"I no longer call it the ‘Saudi Arabia of critical minerals’—it’s not accurate. Instead, we are the unknown West of critical minerals. The resources we need to secure our supply chains are all around us," said Dr. Mcling.
Dr. Mcling also noted that copper is still not classified as a critical mineral, despite its role in power grids, wind turbines, and EV production.
"By 2050, just to meet global copper demand, we will need to open a new medium-sized mine every year for the next 14 years. That’s nearly impossible under our current regulatory environment," he warned.
Dr. Mcling also acknowledged environmental concerns, emphasizing that modern mining must be sustainable.
"We cannot afford to mine like it’s 1900. China can because they control the market, but we don’t have that luxury. The global market doesn’t care if our metals are green if they cost twice as much as China’s. That’s the reality we’re facing."
Dr. Brian Steed: Growing Demand Requires a New Mindset
Dr. Brian Steed, Executive Director at Utah State University’s Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Air, and Water, spoke on the increasing demand for energy and minerals.
"What do we want as a state, as a nation, and globally? One word: More. More energy, more electricity, more minerals, more clean air, more clean water. Demand isn’t going down—it’s going up."
He cited projections that U.S. electricity demand will grow by 81%, largely due to energy-intensive industries like data centers.
"That should be a wake-up call. We’re entering a phase where we need more generation and transmission, and if we don’t plan now, we will fall behind."
Steed noted that, for the first time, there is bipartisan recognition of the need for more mining—even traditionally anti-mining outlets like PBS acknowledge its necessity for the green energy transition.
"We cannot meet our climate or national security goals without mining. That’s just the reality," he said.
He stressed that data-driven policy decisions will be essential to balancing environmental concerns with resource development.
Eric Lyon: China’s Long Game and America’s Lagging Strategy
Eric Lyon, author of The Lithium Economy and CEO of GW Strategies, warned that China has a decades-long strategy to dominate minerals.
"They think in decades, not quarters. Critical minerals are central to that plan."
He described China’s Belt and Road Initiative as a geopolitical tool that allows China to control global mineral access through infrastructure financing in developing nations.
"China controls cobalt in Congo, lithium in Zimbabwe, and phosphate in Morocco. Meanwhile, the U.S. is largely absent. They’re playing three-dimensional chess while we’re stuck in 90-day business cycles."
Lyon cautioned that China’s strategy isn’t about profit—it’s about long-term power.
"They’re willing to lose money if it means dominating batteries, energy, and global influence. We're late to the game, and catching up won’t be easy."
Dr. Bobby Mohanty: The Future of Lithium Extraction
Dr. Bobby Mohanty, a Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering professor at the University of Utah, discussed NexGen Materials’ Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology.
"Lithium recovery is really hard to do sustainably. Traditional evaporation ponds use enormous amounts of water—something that won’t fly in the western U.S. anymore. We have to do better."
He explained that NexGen’s electrochemical DLE process is designed for efficiency, operating at low voltage and using significantly less water than conventional methods.
"Early tests show we can reduce water usage to less than 50,000 gallons per ton, compared to 240,000 gallons in traditional ponds."
Mohanty also stressed the importance of domestic processing to reduce reliance on China.
"Right now, most materials are mined here but sent to China for processing. That’s a massive resilience problem."
He highlighted the role of AI and machine learning in optimizing extraction, making it possible to analyze feedstocks in real time and avoid costly inefficiencies.
"We want to provide the technology, not own the resources. Our goal is to integrate into existing infrastructure, scale quickly, and make domestic production viable—while dramatically reducing water and energy use."
A Clear Call to Action
The 47G Critical Materials Summit reinforced the urgent need to strengthen domestic supply chains, reduce dependence on foreign sources, and accelerate innovation in mineral extraction and processing.
The key takeaways? Strategic investment, policy alignment, and industry partnerships are essential to ensuring America’s mineral security in an era of global competition.
For more information, visit 47G.
