West Cobar (ASX:WC1) engages GreenMet to advance U.S. critical minerals partnerships

West Cobar Metals Limited (ASX:WC1) has announced that it is working with Washington-based advisory firm GreenMet to introduce its portfolio of Australian critical minerals projects to U.S. policy makers, investors and industry participants.

With established resources of antimony, copper, rare earths, scandium and titanium, the company is positioning its projects to align with U.S. initiatives focused on securing resilient supply chains.

Managing Director Matt Szwedzicki addressed key investor questions to provide further clarity on this development.

Why is West Cobar engaging with GreenMet in the United States?

West Cobar identified the opportunity to engage directly with U.S. decision makers at a time when the country is prioritising secure and resilient supply chains for critical minerals.

GreenMet, headquartered in Washington D.C., has strong networks across federal agencies, industry and private capital.

The firm is led by Drew Horn, who has held senior positions at the White House, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Departments of Energy and Defense.

His experience includes implementing the Defense Production Act and leading initiatives to strengthen industrial and defence supply chains in the U.S.

“We are thrilled to be working with GreenMet, which has extensive knowledge and unique channels into the critical mineral opportunities that are being developed by the U.S. Government.”

What makes the Bulla Park Project strategically important?

The Bulla Park Project, located in the Cobar Basin of New South Wales, is an antimony and copper deposit with silver credits. It is supported by an Inferred Mineral Resource of 20 million tonnes at 0.58% copper equivalent, containing 60,000 tonnes of copper, 20,000 tonnes of antimony and 3 million ounces of silver.

The estimate represents only a portion of the mineralised system, which is indicated by a strong gravity anomaly linked to siderite and barite alteration.

We have an exploration target that has been announced, which could take us up to approx. 70Mt at a similar grade.

Metallurgical testwork has achieved recoveries of 94.6% copper, 82.6% antimony and 84.1% silver through conventional flotation.

The resulting concentrate, representing just 4.4% of feed mass, was further processed using an alkaline sodium sulphide leach to recover antimony, which was precipitated as a 37% grade antimony sulphide product.

These outcomes highlight the project’s potential to generate two valuable product streams: a clean copper-silver concentrate acceptable to smelters and a saleable antimony product.

How does the Salazar Project fit into West Cobar’s critical minerals strategy?

The Salazar Project in Western Australia hosts rare earth elements, scandium, titanium dioxide and alumina within saprolitic clays.

Resource estimates completed in 2024 confirm large tonnages, including 230 million tonnes at 1,178 ppm total rare earth oxides across the Newmont and O’Connor deposits.

These resources contain valuable components such as praseodymium, neodymium, dysprosium and terbium.

The project also contains 42 million tonnes grading 5.21% TiO2, along with scandium and alumina resources.

Metallurgical work has shown that an ilmenite concentrate can be produced through size classification, heavy liquid separation and magnetic separation, creating a cleaner feed for rare earth recovery.

This opens opportunities for leaching to produce a mixed rare earth carbonate product with the potential to also extract scandium.

“Although our entire critical mineral suite will be highlighted, we are particularly interested in showcasing the antimony and rare earth, scandium content of our projects.”

What specific U.S. Government opportunities is West Cobar aiming to access?

Through its partnership with GreenMet, West Cobar Metals is targeting established U.S. Government programs that support critical minerals projects.

These include grant and loan schemes administered by departments such as Defense and Energy, along with potential offtake opportunities under supply chain initiatives.

GreenMet’s role is to connect projects like Bulla Park and Salazar to these mechanisms, helping ensure alignment with U.S. priorities in defence, energy and technology.

Why are antimony and rare earths a particular focus for the company?

While West Cobar’s portfolio also includes copper, scandium, titanium and alumina, the company is prioritising antimony and rare earths due to their strategic importance and their recognition by the United States as critical minerals.

At Bulla Park, testwork has confirmed the ability to produce a saleable high-grade antimony sulphide product.

At Salazar, the rare earth resources include neodymium and dysprosium, which are essential for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, renewable energy and defence applications.

“We have a portfolio of highly sought after critical minerals in a U.S.-friendly jurisdiction. Given the intense drive to secure critical mineral supply chains in the U.S.A., we are now seeking direct exposure to its wide ecosystem of policymakers, investors and industry participants.”

Strengthening pathways to development

This Q&A demonstrates how West Cobar is progressing its Bulla Park and Salazar projects while targeting U.S. funding, offtake channels and strategic partnerships that directly support national policy objectives.

With defined resources, positive metallurgical results and a diverse suite of critical minerals, the company is positioning itself as a reliable contributor to secure supply chains in a U.S.-aligned jurisdiction.

As Managing Director Matt Szwedzicki explained, the company’s focus on antimony and rare earths, alongside its broader project portfolio, creates a clear pathway for accelerating development in line with U.S. strategic priorities.

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