Ioneer (ASX:INR) has received a conditional award from the US Army for a long-term land lease at Tooele Army Depot in Utah to establish critical mineral processing facilities.
The company is one of only four groups selected for the Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) program, which allows the Army to lease excess, underutilised land to private-sector partners.
Ioneer intends to develop a boron processing facility at the depot, supporting its construction-ready Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project.
The project hosts the largest undeveloped boron ore reserve in the world outside of Türkiye and the only undeveloped boron ore reserve in North America.
The US Government added boron to its list of critical minerals in November 2025, recognising its essential role in national security applications including advanced armour, semiconductors, and nuclear applications.
Managing Director Bernard Rowe says the partnership secures a domestic supply chain for critical minerals that underpin national defence.
“Boron is foundational to modern military power and force protection — and producing it on [American] soil strengthens our industrial base while reducing our over-reliance on foreign sources,” Rowe says.
The other three conditional awards went to Empire State Mines, Energy X, and REalloys (NASDAQ:ALOY).
Ioneer says development is slated to begin as early as 2027, with initial operating capability targeted by or ahead of 2028.
Ioneer is an emerging materials explorer and mining company, with US operations based in Nevada.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: Ioneer
