The Department of Defense (DOD) has announced a $20 million award to South32 through the Defense Production Act Investment Program, aimed to support production of battery-grade manganese in Arizona. The award goes to the Hermosa project, a polymetallic development comprised of a zinc-lead-silver sulfide deposit and a battery-grade manganese deposit.
“This first DPA award for manganese production is a big step towards reducing import dependency throughout the battery material supply chain,” said Anthony Di Stasio, acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Resilience. Manganese is essential for both defense and civilian battery applications, making support for the projects that supply it a DOD priority.