Utah critical minerals strategy is moving from policy concept to execution.
State leaders have unveiled a coordinated plan to make Utah the top destination for critical mineral extraction and processing in the country, a move that could directly support Washington’s broader effort to secure supply chains essential to defense, energy, and advanced manufacturing.
At the center of the initiative is Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s newly revealed “Mission Critical” framework, which sets aggressive targets: meeting 25% of U.S. critical mineral demand, cutting permitting timelines by half to under 18 months, and ensuring that at least 50% of mined materials are processed within the state.
Why Utah and Why Now
The U.S. remains fully dependent on foreign sources for a dozen critical minerals and sources more than half of its supply for 21 others from China. Beijing controls roughly 70% of global rare earth mining and more than 80% of processing for materials such as cobalt, battery graphite, and rare earth elements.
Against this backdrop, Utah’s political leadership sees an opening.
Senate President Stuart Adams framed the strategy as a direct response to trade and tariff pressures, arguing that domestic supply is a practical solution to geopolitical risk.
The Trump administration’s decision to delay certain tariffs on critical minerals underscores how constrained domestic supply has become, and how valuable credible U.S.-based alternatives may be.
Accelerating Projects and Permitting
One of the most notable elements of the Mission Critical plan is speed.
Utah aims to approve five critical mineral mining projects within the next 18 months, while simultaneously modernizing permitting processes without lowering safety or environmental standards.
Governor Cox has pointed to lessons learned from mining-heavy jurisdictions like Canada and Australia, following trade missions in 2025.
“I‘m working … on significantly lowering the time frame that it takes for permitting, in both the mining area and the processing of critical minerals,” Cox said. “(And) still keeping people safe. We can do both of those things.”
Industry groups appear aligned. Brian Somers, president of the Utah Mining Association, described the plan as the result of months of collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector.
“Utah has all of the components needed to be a global leader on this,” Somers told news outlet Deseret News. “I really do think that Utah can take a leading role in helping to solve this problem for the U.S. and also for the industrialized world so that we’re not reliant on China for these mineral supply chains.”
Beyond extraction, Utah is emphasizing downstream value. The framework proposes the creation of critical mineral processing zones, enhanced tax incentives, and a dedicated funding stream sourced from severance taxes.
Perhaps the most strategic element is the push to establish a U.S. Critical Minerals National Laboratory in Utah within six years. Associated Universities, Inc., an operator of major federal research facilities, has already identified Utah as the preferred location. The proposed MINES Center at the University of Utah would anchor research, workforce development, and innovation in mineral processing.
State leaders say discussions with federal partners, including the Department of the Interior and the White House, are already gaining traction.
Geological Advantage Meets Policy Support
Utah’s geological credentials strengthen the case. The Fraser Institute ranked the state as the world’s top jurisdiction for mining investment in 2024, citing both policy stability and resource potential.
Utah is currently the only U.S. producer of beryllium concentrate, potassium sulfate, and uintaite, and hosts 50 of the 60 minerals on the federal critical minerals list.
Recent discoveries add momentum. Ionic Mineral Technologies’ Silicon Ridge project in Utah County contains halloysite-hosted ion-adsorption clays – geologically similar to deposits that account for roughly 40% of China’s rare earth production. State leaders suggest processing could begin as early as this spring.
Economic Strategy Beyond Mining
Lawmakers are also framing critical minerals as an economic hedge. House Speaker Mike Schultz has warned that AI-driven disruption could pressure Utah’s tech employment base, making energy, mining, and processing long-term stabilizers for the state economy.
From a broader perspective, Utah’s strategy reflects a growing recognition that critical minerals are not just a resource issue, but an industrial policy issue, one that ties together defense readiness, trade leverage, and economic resilience.
Schultz adds, “I predict that energy and critical minerals will play a key role in being one of the leading drivers of the state’s economic development down the road.”
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