Alaska possesses the resources to significantly reduce American dependence on foreign nations for critical minerals, according to Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. He asserts that China has leveraged its control over these essential materials for economic blackmail, and developing domestic resources is key to countering this threat.
Dunleavy highlighted that Alaska holds deposits of 57 out of the 60 most important critical minerals. These include rare earth elements vital for technology like hard drives and smartphones, as well as graphite, a key component in batteries for electric vehicles and computers. Graphite is designated as a critical mineral essential for national security under the Defense Production Act.
One significant resource is the Graphite Creek Project, which estimates suggest could supply enough graphite to meet the nation's needs for a century. Dunleavy criticized the Biden administration for investing in foreign facilities, such as a now-shuttered graphite operation in Mozambique that received $150 million in U.S. funding and was affected by civil unrest linked to extremist groups. He contends that prioritizing foreign production over domestic development not only increases economic reliance on unstable governments or geopolitical rivals like China but also shifts production to countries with lower environmental and worker-safety standards.
He stated that not developing projects like Graphite Creek amounts to surrendering to China's influence in the global economy. Dunleavy recalled that former President Donald Trump's administration recognized Alaska's resource potential, issuing an executive order to unlock these resources to enhance economic and national security. Developing the Graphite Creek Project, Dunleavy believes, will create high-paying jobs in Alaska and ensure unfettered access to essential minerals for American businesses and innovators. He concluded that achieving dominance in critical minerals, alongside energy dominance, will lead to sustained American economic leadership.