Victory Metals (ASX:VTM) says a recent executive order issued by US President Donald Trump offers a strategic opportunity for the company to strengthen commercial and geopolitical interest in the North Stanmore Project in Western Australia.
The order directs the initiation of a Section 232 investigation into the national security implications of the US’ reliance on imported processed critical minerals and derivative products.
Victory Metals says this development also supports access to future funding opportunities through international critical mineral initiatives and aligned capital sources.
The company plans to monitor the development of the Section 232 investigation, as well as engage with relevant stakeholders to align Victory Metals with emerging opportunities to advance development plans and commercial discussions.
Victory Metals says the order highlights the urgency for developing secure, transparent and sovereign-aligned supply chains for critical minerals vital to defence, the energy transition and advanced manufacturing.
According to the company, the North Stanmore Project is uniquely positioned to benefit from this shift, with Victory Metals having demonstrated recovery of a suite of strategic and critical minerals targeted in the order. These minerals include dysprosium, terbium and yttrium, as well as gallium and scandium.
In March, Victory Metals released a Scoping Study for the North Stanmore Project which revealed it would become a long-term, low-cost supplier of critical minerals.
With a 31-year mine life and 72% of the resource being in the indicated category and 28% in the inferred category, the project has an estimated net present value (NPV) across multiple pricing scenarios including $1.212 billion (post tax) with 52% internal rate of return (IRR) and $1.777 billion (pre-tax) based on Adamas Intelligence downwards forecast.
The North Stanmore Heavy Rare Earth Element Project is located in Western Australia, 6km north of Cue, with sealed road access via the Great Northern Highway.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Victory Metals
