Titan Mining subsidiary Empire State Mines has secured Conditional Selection Notices from the US Army for Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) opportunities at Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas and Anniston Army Depot in Alabama.
The selection allows the company to build and operate graphite purification facilities at both sites.
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The notice was issued under the Army’s Strategic Capital Initiatives programme and RFP No. DACA27-1-26-204.
This agreement represents the first major public-private partnership for critical mineral processing on US military bases.
Empire State Mines is expected to design, finance, build and operate the Kilbourne Graphite Purification Plant at the selected sites.
Both facilities will focus on producing purified micronised graphite (PMG) and coated spherical purified graphite (CSPG), materials required in defence, energy and industrial sectors.
The US Army has outlined Pine Bluff Arsenal (covering approximately 245 acres) as the primary site, with Anniston Army Depot (approximately 97 acres) advancing on a sequenced timeline.
The development, construction and ongoing costs of the project will be funded by Empire State Mines, with the US Army retaining all land titles.
Titan Mining noted that the EULs may last up to 50 years under applicable legislation.
Negotiations on final business terms have begun, with construction targeted to start in the second half of 2027, pending agreement finalisation.
The company indicated that these conditional awards are among the first issued under Executive Order 14241, which directs the deployment of mineral processing infrastructure on defence sites.
The US currently relies entirely on imports for natural flake graphite and sources more than 90% of battery-grade processed graphite from China.
If finalised, the partnership would establish the first domestic graphite purification facility on a US military installation.
Titan Mining president and CEO Rita Adiani said: “For the first time in American history, a critical minerals processing facility will be built on US defence soil, and Titan Mining is the company making it happen.
“These awards mark a turning point in ending America’s dependence on Chinese-controlled supply chains, and Titan is honoured to lead the reshoring initiative of critical minerals which are essential to our national security.”
In December last year, Titan Mining commenced ore feeding at its Kilbourne graphite demonstration facility, moving the project closer to the initial production of graphite concentrate.
