A public-private initiative will establish the first Strategic Minerals Reserve in US, headquartered at the Hawthorne Army Depot in Mineral County, Nevada.
Nevada-based critical minerals developer M2i Global and aviation company Volato Group will spearhead the effort, with the Department of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency, and the Department of Energy supporting the project. The design pairs secure storage with refining capability, ethical sourcing standards, AI-driven demand forecasting, and workforce development through local partnerships, according to M2i.
The Hawthorne Army Depot site, established in 1930, is described as the world’s largest ammunition depot, with about 56,000 m² of storage space designated for the initiative.
The program targets domestic storage, refining, and distribution of critical minerals—initially gallium, graphite, and copper—used in defense systems, semiconductors, batteries, and electric vehicles.
“Nevada’s abundance in critical minerals presents an opportunity to drive innovation and economic opportunities across our state and beyond, which is why international manipulation of the markets for lithium and other critical minerals presents a real threat,” said Tom Burns, executive director of the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “Securing this supply chain is vital to our national security, and Nevada has the resources to produce and stockpile these critical minerals.”
M2i Global CEO, Major General (Ret.) Alberto Rosende, emphasized that the SMR “is not a stockpile, it’s a strategic capability.” He cited collaboration with GOED to ensure Nevada “plays a defining role in securing our economic and national future.”
The launch aligns with recent policy advocacy. A Hoover Institution report called for a US-led multilateral critical-minerals stockpile and coordinated planning with federal and state agencies, including GOED.
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