DOE offers $16M for mining programs to counter China's control of supply
EXCLUSIVE — The Department of Energy is offering a total of $16 million to advance critical mineral education across the country as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to expand the domestic industry and end China’s control of the supply chain.
TL;DR
- The Department of Energy (DOE) is offering $16 million to advance critical mineral education in the U.S.
- The PROSPECT Planning Prize supports mining schools in developing a workforce for critical mineral production, processing, recovery, and recycling.
- Each program can receive up to $1 million.
- The DOE aims to double the number of graduates in relevant supply chain degrees within 24 months.
- The U.S. needs an estimated 6,000 mining engineers in the next decade, compared to 163 graduates last year.
- China graduated over 3,000 mining students last year.
- The initiative addresses a shortage of students, programs, and faculty in mining education.
- This prize is part of the DOE's $100 million PROSPECT initiative.
- Critical minerals are essential for energy, defense, and consumer electronics.
- The Trump administration is taking steps to diversify the U.S. critical mineral supply chain away from China.