Graphite One (TSX-V:GPH) is streamlining the development of its Graphite Creek Project in a 60-day period for the FAST-41 permitting process with a timetable to be made public shortly.
The FAST-41 timetable is expected to be published by 1 August 2025, comprising intermediate and final completion dates for federal environmental review and authorisation.
The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (FPISC) indicated that projects listed under the FAST-41 program typically receive a record of decision 25% faster than unrelated projects.
The US Army Corps of Engineers will coordinate public and tribal participation to finalise these reviews, developing a detailed program to develop the project with other agencies.
CEO Anthony Huston says the US has been promoting the significance of local rare earths production amid its tariff wars with China.
“With China’s control over graphite exceeding the rare earths – and with the tighter export controls China placed on graphite last year – the message should be clear: Critical mineral dependencies can become economic weapons without warning,” Huston says.
“Our listing on FAST-41 will bring us the predictability and accountability we need to bring our project into production, and end more than 30 years of total foreign graphite dependency.”
Graphite Creek is the first Alaska-based project approved for the federal dashboard, alongside 25 other mining projects across the country.
“The momentum we are currently generating to end more than three decades of zero domestic graphite production could not come at a better time,” Huston adds.
“Between greater predictability and accountability for our project via the Fast-41 program, our new non-binding supply agreement with Lucid and a tripled resource at Graphite Creek, we are well-positioned to move forward.”
As reported by Mining.com.au last year, the company is actively working with Lucid Group to supply 5,000 tonnes of synthetic graphite each year under a five year term.
Graphite One is focused on advancing the US’ graphite supply chain for the electric vehicle battery market and energy storage systems.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Graphite One
