Last mentioned: Mar 10, 2026
24-Month Target
The deadline set by industry experts to significantly undo 30 years of strategic monopolization.
Projected Output Surge
Expected timeframe for significant gains in output from recycled black mass and battery materials.
CFR Strategy Briefing
Officials announce 'game-changing' recycling and refining innovations to counter China.
Office Formation
The DOE establishes the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation led by Audrey Robertson.
The US Department of Energy is pivoting toward advanced recycling and multi-mineral processing to break China's 30-year monopoly on critical minerals. Officials expect significant output gains from lithium-ion battery 'black mass' within the next 12 months as new domestic refining technologies come online.