Key Takeaways
- Alaska Energy Metals has signed an MOU with Lucid and three other critical mineral companies to form a new U.S.-based alliance called MINAC.
- The initiative supports a Trump administration executive order aimed at boosting domestic mineral production and reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.
- Participants include Lucid Motors, Graphite One, Electric Metals, and RecycLiCo, targeting materials crucial to EV and defense sectors.
- The alliance aims to build secure, traceable, and environmentally regulated mineral supply chains within U.S. borders.
- The announcement featured bipartisan political support, suggesting critical minerals are a rare point of consensus.
In a bid to fortify U.S. national security through resource independence, Alaska Energy Metals Corp. and electric vehicle maker Lucid Group have joined a new coalition of mining and processing companies to secure domestic supply chains for critical minerals. The alliance—called Minerals for National Automotive Competitiveness, or MINAC—seeks to reduce reliance on foreign mineral imports, especially from China, which dominates global processing of essential EV inputs.
Announced Tuesday, the initiative positions critical minerals as a national security priority. It follows a March executive order by President Trump directing U.S. agencies to accelerate mineral development projects and ease permitting hurdles. MINAC’s members—Alaska Energy Metals, Lucid, Graphite One, Electric Metals USA, and RecycLiCo—intend to build a U.S.-controlled pipeline for minerals crucial to the automotive and defense sectors.
“The U.S. cannot afford to be dependent on foreign nations for materials that are the backbone of our economy and security,” said Alaska Energy Metals CEO Gregory Beischer. “By creating resilient domestic supply chains, we not only enable the energy transition—we protect our sovereignty.”
A Strategic Pivot to Resource Independence
Lucid’s involvement marks a notable departure from the automaker’s usual supply chain strategy. Until now, most EV manufacturers have sourced processed materials via intermediaries and global spot markets. Direct participation in a mining initiative signals concern over long-term access to graphite, nickel, cobalt, and rare earths—materials increasingly weaponized in global trade.
The U.S. currently imports more than 80% of its battery-grade graphite, nearly all from China. A sharp deterioration in U.S.-China relations could leave automakers scrambling for supply. Policymakers have taken notice.
“Critical minerals are this generation’s oil,” said Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), speaking at MINAC’s launch event alongside Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and U.S. Reps. Nick Begich (R-AK) and Andy Biggs (R-AZ). “Our national security, energy independence, and economic future hinge on our ability to mine, refine, and recycle these materials here at home.”
Policy Support, Environmental Scrutiny
While MINAC aligns with the Trump administration’s directive to unleash domestic resource development, the effort is not without controversy. Streamlined permitting processes have drawn criticism from environmental groups and Indigenous leaders concerned about degradation in ecologically sensitive regions.
“Faster is not always better,” said Lauren Pagel, policy director at Earthworks, a nonprofit focused on mining accountability. “Domestic mining should not come at the expense of community consent, biodiversity, or clean water.”
Beischer maintains that MINAC members will adhere to higher environmental and labor standards than are typical abroad. “This is not about cutting corners,” he said. “It’s about building a transparent, traceable, and responsible critical minerals supply chain under U.S. law.”
Execution Remains the Challenge
Though framed as a turning point in U.S. resource strategy, MINAC’s projects remain largely in early development. Alaska Energy Metals is exploring nickel-cobalt assets in central Alaska. Graphite One’s deposit near Nome is still undergoing feasibility studies. Electric Metals and RecycLiCo bring recycling and specialty metallurgy capabilities, but lack scaled infrastructure.
Lucid’s decision to anchor the group adds urgency—but also pressure. “OEM participation gives MINAC credibility,” said David Abraham, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic Materials. “The question is whether that will translate into capital and execution.”
For now, the partnership reflects rare bipartisan agreement: decoupling from foreign-controlled critical minerals supply chains has become more than a matter of economic competitiveness. It’s a strategic imperative.
