West Cobar Metals (ASX:WC1) advances U.S. critical minerals strategy

West Cobar Metals has reported progress in executing its U.S.-focused critical minerals strategy, including formal engagement with government funding pathways and strategic partnerships, as the company seeks to align its Australian asset base with U.S. supply chain priorities.

Highlights

• Submission lodged for U.S. federal funding programs
• Portfolio includes Sb, Cu, REE, Sc, Ga and TiO₂ aligned with U.S. supply chain priorities
• Salazar (WA) and Bulla Park (NSW) projects provide scale and commodity diversity
• Engagement with Washington D.C.-based advisor GreenMet
• Evaluation of U.S.-based project opportunities

West Cobar Metals confirmed it has submitted documentation for U.S. federal funding, targeting support for the development of the Salazar project, and is awaiting confirmation on whether the submission will proceed further.

The company stated its Australian critical minerals portfolio includes antimony, copper, rare earth elements, scandium, gallium and titanium, commodities it identified as strategically critical to U.S. national security and industrial supply chains.

The company said its projects in New South Wales and Western Australia are positioned in tier-one jurisdictions and offer development pathways supported by metallurgical outcomes and established resources.

West Cobar is working with GreenMet, a Washington D.C.-based advisory firm led by Drew Horn, to elevate visibility of its projects across U.S. agencies and industry, with the engagement including access to federal grant, loan and procurement programs and the development of strategic partnerships and offtake pathways.

Managing director Matt Szwedzicki said,

“West Cobar is actively positioning itself at the centre of the rapidly emerging U.S. critical minerals supply chain where security of supply is now a national priority.”

At the project level, the Salazar critical minerals project in Western Australia covers 560 km² and includes the Newmont and O’Connor deposits.

Reported Mineral Resources include 230 Mt at 1,178 ppm TREO, including 44 Mt at 1,239 ppm TREO in the indicated category using a 600 ppm TREO cut-off, with additional resources of 15 Mt at 153 ppm Sc₂O₃, 42 Mt at 5.2% TiO₂, 263 Mt at 35 ppm Ga₂O₃ and 4 Mt at 29.7% Al₂O₃.

The company stated the project hosts a shallow, saprolite-hosted critical minerals system enriched over underlying amphibolite, with mineralisation considered amenable to open-pit mining and processing methods.

At Bulla Park in New South Wales, the company reports an inferred Mineral Resource of 20 Mt at 0.58% CuEq, comprising 0.30% Cu, 0.10% Sb and 4.7 g/t Ag at a 0.21% Cu cut-off.

Metallurgical testwork achieved recoveries of 94.6% Cu, 84.1% Sb and 82.6% Ag through flotation and selective leaching, producing a copper-silver concentrate and an antimony sulphide product.

West Cobar Metals outlined next steps including progressing technical studies and development pathways, continuing U.S. funding and strategic partnership discussions, and evaluating U.S.-based acquisition opportunities.

The company stated its portfolio spans commodities used in electrification, defence and advanced manufacturing within a global supply chain realignment.

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