Recent developments across the critical minerals sector have highlighted new project milestones in rare earths, tungsten, graphite and molybdenum, as governments and companies focus on strengthening mineral supply chains outside concentrated sources of production.
Projects in Sweden, the United States, Namibia and Greenland have advanced through permitting, feasibility studies, equipment relocation and government support initiatives, reflecting increased attention on strategic raw materials used in industrial, energy, technology and defense applications.
Sweden rare earth project receives long-term mining concession
In Sweden, Leading Edge Materials secured a 25-year exploitation concession for its Norra Kärr heavy rare-earth project. The concession was granted to the company’s wholly owned subsidiary GREENNA Mineral AB for the Norra Kärr K Nr. 2 exploitation area.
Leading Edge Materials said the deposit contains a particularly high proportion of dysprosium, terbium and yttrium, rare earth elements used in high-performance permanent magnets and advanced applications.
The company said Norra Kärr could become the European Union’s first heavy rare-earth elements mine, with the project gaining importance due to the absence of current rare earth production within the EU. The development aligns with European policy efforts to expand domestic extraction, processing and recycling capacity for strategic raw materials.
Nevada tungsten project advances with economic study
In the United States, Guardian Metal Resources released a pre-feasibility study for the Pilot Mountain tungsten project in Nevada. The study reported a base-case after-tax NPV8 of US$660.3 million, an internal rate of return of 59.6%, and estimated initial capital expenditure of US$288.7 million.
The planned operation is expected to produce 15,916 tonnes of recovered tungsten trioxide (WO₃) during an initial eight-year mine life. Pilot Mountain is being developed as a conventional open-pit operation with a 4,000-tonne-per-day processing plant using flotation to produce tungsten concentrate. Tungsten’s strategic importance has increased following its inclusion on the United States final 2025 critical minerals list.
Namibia graphite project moves toward restart
In Namibia, Northern Graphite completed the relocation of processing plant equipment to the Okanjande graphite mine site as part of preparations for a planned production restart in late 2027, subject to financing. The equipment was moved from the former Okorusu processing site, approximately 85 kilometres from Okanjande.
Northern Graphite said the relocation represents the first execution step toward restarting production and follows a 2023 preliminary economic assessment that evaluated moving the processing facility rather than rehabilitating the existing mill. The company is positioning Okanjande as part of a broader graphite supply strategy, including potential future supply for battery-anode material production.
Greenland molybdenum project receives government support
Molybdenum has also gained attention through government support for new supply sources. Reuters reported that Canada is providing C$7 million in grants to Greenland Resources’ Malmbjerg molybdenum project in Greenland. Molybdenum is used in aerospace, energy and defense applications. Reuters also reported that China produces around 40% of global molybdenum supply and introduced export controls on the metal in early 2025, increasing concerns over supply security in Western markets.
Governments strengthen critical mineral strategies
Critical minerals policy continues to influence project development decisions. Reuters reported that Canada and Japan are discussing cooperation on mining projects, offtake agreements and potential stockpiling arrangements involving minerals including graphite and gallium.
The European Union Critical Raw Materials Act establishes targets for increasing domestic capacity in extraction, processing and recycling of strategic materials.
The United States critical minerals list includes materials such as graphite, tungsten, dysprosium, terbium and yttrium, reflecting their importance in industrial and strategic supply chains. Across these markets, mining companies are increasingly developing projects linked not only to mineral resources but also to supply-chain security, processing capability and strategic industrial requirements.
Critical minerals projects continue to face traditional mining challenges, including permitting, financing, metallurgy, offtake agreements and construction execution. Projects advancing toward production will depend on converting strategic importance into completed approvals, secured capital, customer agreements and operating mines.
