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It’s official – the USA has a new administration and President Trump is not wasting any time. On Day 1, the Whitehouse released a number of presidential actions, some of which are sure to directly affect Ares Strategic Mining Inc. How so? The 3 presidential actions that are likely to have the greatest impact are the “Declaring a National Energy Emergency”” act, the “Unleashing American Energy” act, and the “America First Trade Policy” act. We take a deep dive below and explore how ARES plans to navigate and leverage the new landscape they find themselves in.
FLUORSPAR REMAINS CRITICAL TO THE NATION’S ENERGY NEEDS
What has the new administration said regarding critical minerals?
“The energy and critical minerals (“energy”) identification, leasing, development, production, transportation, refining, and generation capacity of the United States are all far too inadequate to meet our Nation’s needs. We need a reliable, diversified, and affordable supply of energy to drive our Nation’s manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, and defense industries, and to sustain the basics of modern life and military preparedness.” [Section 1]
“To facilitate the Nation’s energy supply, agencies shall identify and use all relevant lawful emergency and other authorities available to them to expedite the completion of all authorized and appropriated infrastructure, energy, environmental, and natural resources projects that are within the identified authority of each of the Secretaries to perform or to advance.” [Section 3 (a)]
“The term “energy” or “energy resources” means crude oil, natural gas, lease condensates, natural gas liquids, refined petroleum products, uranium, coal, biofuels, geothermal heat, the kinetic movement of flowing water, and critical minerals, as defined by 30 U.S.C. 1606 (a)(3).” [Section 8 (a)]
Whitehouse Executive Order “Declaring a National Energy Emergency” from January 20, 2025″
As detailed by 30 U.S.C. 1606 (a)(3) the Final 2023 DOE Critical Materials List includes the following:
- Critical materials for energy: aluminum, cobalt, copper*, dysprosium, electrical steel* (grain-oriented electrical steel, non-grain-oriented electrical steel, and amorphous steel), fluorine, gallium, iridium, lithium, magnesium, natural graphite, neodymium, nickel, platinum, praseodymium, terbium, silicon*, and silicon carbide*.
- Critical minerals: The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), published a 2022 final list of critical minerals that includes the following 50 minerals: “Aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barite, beryllium, bismuth, cerium, cesium, chromium, cobalt, dysprosium, erbium, europium, fluorspar, gadolinium, gallium, germanium, graphite, hafnium, holmium, indium, iridium, lanthanum, lithium, lutetium, magnesium, manganese, neodymium, nickel, niobium, palladium, platinum, praseodymium, rhodium, rubidium, ruthenium, samarium, scandium, tantalum, tellurium, terbium, thulium, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, ytterbium, yttrium, zinc, and zirconium.”
What does that mean for ARES?
Fluorspar remains an essential critical mineral, of which it’s status has not changed. The U.S. currently relies almost entirely on imported fluorspar, leaving critical industries vulnerable to supply disruptions, further emphasizing the ongoing importance domestic fluorspar production presents to the country’s economy and national security.
The highlighted critical materials, critical minerals and rare earths above are all present at our Lost Sheep Mine in Delta, Utah. Fluorspar is the predominate mineral that will be mined and manufacture, with additional procedures in planning for the mining of gallium and germanium, its findings of which were published on Aug 03, 2023.
As political shifts reshape the energy landscape, ARES Strategic Mining remains extremely well-positioned to benefit from U.S efforts to secure critical mineral independence.
THE REVERSAL OF THE “EV MANDATE” WILL SLOW BATTERY DEMAND & RESTORE THE DOMESTIC FLUORSPAR MARKET
What has the new administration said regarding the EV mandate?
“It is the policy of the United States: (e) to eliminate the “electric vehicle (EV) mandate” and promote true consumer choice, which is essential for economic growth and innovation, by removing regulatory barriers to motor vehicle access; by ensuring a level regulatory playing field for consumer choice in vehicles; by terminating, where appropriate, state emissions waivers that function to limit sales of gasoline-powered automobiles; and by considering the elimination of unfair subsidies and other ill-conceived government-imposed market distortions that favor EVs over other technologies and effectively mandate their purchase by individuals, private businesses, and government entities alike by rendering other types of vehicles unaffordable;”
“It is thus in the national interest to unleash America’s affordable and reliable energy and natural resources”
White House Executive Order “Unleashing American Energy” from January 20, 2025″
What does that mean for ARES?
Over the past 4 years, ARES has benefitted from growth in the EV market, with both management and many shareholders believing lithium-ion battery producers to be a potentially large consumer of our products. But with China holding ‘the keys’ to the battery supply chain, and at times flooding the market with cheap product, it has always presented a challenge. This is one of the reasons that ARES has always reported on the huge number of various applications that fluorspar enjoys, including steel and glass production, refrigerants as well as notable applications within the technology and defense sectors.
ARES are not deterred in any way by the removal of the ‘EV mandate’. In fact, with these policy changes aimed at easing critical mineral demand in the market, lowering deficits, and bolstering U.S domestic resources, ARES Strategic Mining stands to benefit.
POTENTIAL COMPETITORS, BUT ARES HOLDS FIRST MOVER ADVANTAGE
What has the new administration said about how America will restore mineral dominance?
“The heads of executive departments and agencies (“agencies”) shall identify and exercise any lawful emergency authorities available to them, as well as all other lawful authorities they may possess, to facilitate the identification, leasing, siting, production, transportation, refining, and generation of domestic energy resources, including, but not limited to, on Federal lands. If an agency assesses that use of either Federal eminent domain authorities or authorities afforded under the Defense Production Act (Public Law 81-774, 50 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.) are necessary to achieve this objective, the agency shall submit recommendations for a course of action to the President, through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.” [Section 2 (a)]
Declaring a national energy emergency, Whitehouse, Jan 2025
“The Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, Administrator of the EPA, Chairman of CEQ, and the heads of any other relevant agencies, as appropriate, shall identify all agency actions that impose undue burdens on the domestic mining and processing of non-fuel minerals and undertake steps to revise or rescind such actions.” [Section 9 (a)]
“The Secretary of the Interior shall instruct the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey to consider updating the Survey’s list of critical minerals, including for the potential of including uranium.” [Section 9 (c)]
“The Secretary of the Interior shall prioritize efforts to accelerate the ongoing, detailed geologic mapping of the United States, with a focus on locating previously unknown deposits of critical minerals.” [Section 9 (d)]
“The Secretary of Energy shall ensure that critical mineral projects, including the processing of critical minerals, receive consideration for Federal support, contingent on the availability of appropriated funds.” [Section 9 (e)]
Unleashing American Energy, Whitehouse, Jan 2025
What does that mean for ARES?
Securing permits for mining projects can often take years, creating a significant barrier to entry. The easing of undue mining ‘red tape’ in combination with increased geological mapping is likely to produce fluorspar competitors, of which ARES has none currently.
However, ARES is far ahead of any potential competition. ARES has already cleared these hurdles and is primed to begin operations this year in Delta, Utah. Plans are also underway to expand operations by acquiring additional sites, further catapulting ARES as America’s foremost supplier of fluorspar.
This significant first mover advantage will ensure that ARES dominates the domestic fluorspar market, and likely become an expert consultant or partner for other potential sites.
ARES’ upcoming production will provide a reliable, American-made source of fluorspar that will reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and strengthen the nation’s industrial supply chains.
Check out the outlook for fluorspar mining at the Lost Sheep Mine:
This post has been sponsored by Ares Strategic Mining and Associated Marketing Affiliates. For all enquiries, please reach out to news@wallstreetendeavor.com
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