U.S. President Donald Trump is looking to build metals refining facilities on military bases in a bid to increase domestic production of critical minerals, Reuters reported, citing two unidentified senior administration officials.
Since the Pentagon controls about 30 million acres (121,406 sq. km) of land, the plan would ensure enough real estate is available for the processing facilities, avoiding the controversy that sometimes occurs in communities, Reuters said Monday. It would also negate the need to buy land.
An e-mail sent Wednesday morning to the U.S. Department of Defense’s press department seeking comment on the matter wasn’t immediately returned.
Trump is planning to name a critical minerals “czar,” Reuters also said. In an address to U.S. lawmakers last week, he vowed to “take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the USA.”
Unnamed Trump administration officials are concerned that China might curb exports of critical minerals in response to new U.S. tariffs, Reuters said. U.S. fighter jets, submarines and bullets are some of the weaponry currently built with minerals processed by China, Reuters said.
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