Locksley Resources (ASX:LKY) is strengthening its US defence supply chain strategy with the appointment of Stacy Newstead as the company’s strategic advisor.
Newstead serves as Materials Strategy and Risk Manager at global security, defence, and aerospace contractor Lockheed Martin, overseeing US supply chain risk mitigation for critical materials used in advanced defence systems.
Locksley, which has a market capitalisation of $79.56 million, says her appointment reinforces the company’s position at the intersection of critical minerals, defence, and nation security strategy, providing invaluable insight into US policy, funding, and industrial collaboration opportunities.
Newstead says the restoration of secure, transparent, and domestic critical mineral supply chains is essential to US defence readiness and the broader energy transition.
“Locksley’s integrated mine-to-market model and US operational footprint, position it as a key contributor to these national objectives,” she says.
Locksley CEO Kerrie Matthews adds that Newstead’s appointment represents a step forward in strengthening the company’s US advisory capability.
“Her perspective on material security and risk will help guide our engagement with US industry and government stakeholders as we scale from pilot to commercial operations,” Matthews says.
Locksley has submitted a US Government White Paper funding request under the Defence Production Act Title III DPA to advance its project financing position, as well as accelerate a first mover status in re-establishing domestic antimony production.
Antimony is a critical metal, which, driven by China’s export ban, has become a red-hot commodity. Despite its popularity, US domestic supply is virtually non-existent with smelting capacity constrained globally, as Mining.com.au reported.
Chinese mine production decreased from 110kt in 2015 to 40kt in 2023, according to Blue Ocean Equities. Key drivers for this decline in mine supply include depletion of higher grade resources and tighter environmental controls amid consolidation of small-scale mining.
China Merchants Securities forecasts that antimony demand from the photovoltaic sector alone will increase from roughly 16,000 tonnes in 2021 to 68,000 tonnes in 2026. The industry’s share of total consumption is poised to rise from 11% to 39%.
About 90% of global antimony production is controlled by China, Russia, and Tajikistan, which is creating significant supply risks for Western nations such as Australia, Canada, and the US.
Recently, Locksley poured the first US made antimony ingot in decades. The Geological Survey lists it as critical to national security, but the country had zero domestic production until this year. That’s why this tiny pour matters.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Locksley Resources
