From New Resources to Domestic Processing: Strengthening America’s Critical Mineral Supply Chain
A new source of critical minerals can strengthen the U.S. supply chain, but only if those minerals can be processed into materials manufacturers can use. That takes technical expertise, suitable facilities, and a reliable path from feedstock to finished product.
Westwin is evaluating potential future feedstocks as it works to expand domestic refining capacity. The question for each source is how it could be processed to meet customers’ needs.
Evaluating Polymetallic Nodules
Westwin and Deep Sea Minerals recently announced a nonbinding letter of intent to explore potential U.S. processing pathways for polymetallic nodules. These naturally occurring seabed formations contain nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese.
The letter of intent lays the groundwork for a possible joint technical evaluation. Under a future agreement, Deep Sea Minerals would provide representative samples and data, while Westwin would conduct testing to assess potential processing routes.
From Mineral Resource to Finished Product
Polymetallic nodules present a potential source of nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese, but bringing those metals into a U.S. supply chain depends on developing a viable domestic processing route. That is where domestic processing expertise matters. Westwin’s work with Deep Sea Minerals will explore how material from the nodules could move through those steps in the United States.
The proposed evaluation would examine the steps needed to move from nodule material toward intermediate and potentially saleable products. That work could help the companies understand where Westwin’s processing expertise may contribute and what further development would be needed.
Expanding the Options for U.S. Refining
No single feedstock source can address every supply need. By exploring additional materials alongside its existing feedstock relationships, Westwin is working to expand the options that could support its future U.S. refining capacity.
The potential collaboration with Deep Sea Minerals reflects that approach: connecting promising resources with the domestic expertise needed to turn them into useful materials.
As Westwin scales its U.S. operations, understanding how additional feedstocks can support operations will help build a more flexible and dependable supply chain.
