The US has expanded its critical minerals list to include copper and metallurgical coal, reflecting the government's efforts to bolster domestic supply chains for materials crucial to the economy and national security.  

The Department of the Interior’s (DoI) updated list will influence federal investment and permitting decisions, as well as guide broader minerals strategy to reduce reliance on imports, particularly from China, reported Reuters. 

The updated critical minerals list serves as a blueprint for Washington’s efforts to secure materials essential for defence, manufacturing and clean energy technologies.  

The list determines which mining projects are eligible for federal incentives, shapes national stockpiling and research priorities, and signals to private investors the sectors where the government anticipates long-term strategic value. 

Copper, vital for electric vehicles, power grids and data centres, is widely used in power generation, electronics and construction.  

Metallurgical coal, used to make coke fuel for steel production, is essential for the steel industry.  

The updated US Geological Survey list also includes potash, rhenium, silicon and lead. 

Officials and industry leaders indicate that boosting domestic production is intended to protect the US from potential supply disruptions or export restrictions imposed by competitors such as China, which currently dominates the global refining of many critical minerals.  

The DoI emphasises that critical minerals underpin key industries, drive technological innovation and support critical infrastructure essential for a modern US economy. 

Freeport-McMoRan, a leading US copper producer, operates seven mines and controls one of the country’s two smelters.  

The company has stated it could generate more than $500m a year in tax credits under the 2022 US Inflation Reduction Act if copper were declared a critical mineral.  

The average copper grade in Freeport’s US mines is lower than in other regions, resulting in higher costs and making the US its least profitable region, which has driven the company’s push to include copper on the list. 

Including metallurgical coal in the list aligns with President Donald Trump’s support for fossil fuels.  

Recently, several US metallurgical coal mines have shut down due to oversupply and reduced exports to China, which imposed an additional 15% tariff on US coal imports this year. 

National Mining Association president and CEO Rich Nolan was cited by Reuters as saying that the association will continue to advocate for further expansion of the list “to ensure that the US has the abundant domestic resources it needs, when it needs them”.