American Resources Corporation to Develop Critical Mineral Refinery in American Samoa

American Resources Corporation (AREC) has entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the American Samoa Economic Development Authority to explore the establishment of a critical mineral refinery focusing on deep-sea nodules in the American Samoa region. The refinery aims to create a vertically integrated supply chain for critical minerals in the United States, leveraging ReElement Technologies and Impossible Metals' partnerships. The initiative targets the extraction and refining of essential minerals such as copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and rare earth elements, with the goal of securing a sustainable and independent rare earth supply chain.

American Resources Corporation (AREC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the American Samoa Economic Development Authority (ASEDA) to explore the establishment of a critical mineral refinery focusing on deep-sea nodules in the American Samoa region. The refinery aims to create a vertically integrated supply chain for critical minerals in the United States, leveraging partnerships with ReElement Technologies and Impossible Metals [1].

The initiative targets the extraction and refining of essential minerals such as copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and rare earth elements, with the goal of securing a sustainable and independent rare earth supply chain. The MOU follows President Trump's April 2025 Executive Order, Unleashing America's Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources, which underscores the urgency of domestic collaboration across the exploration, harvesting, processing, and environmental stewardship of seabed mineral resources [1].

ReElement Technologies, a portfolio company of AREC, is a leading provider of high-performance refining capacity for rare earth and critical battery elements. The company's multi-mineral, multi-feedstock platform technology focuses on the refining of recycled material from rare earth permanent magnets and lithium-ion batteries, concentrated ores and brines, as well as coal-based waste streams and byproducts [2]. The collaboration with Impossible Metals, which has played a direct role in shaping global policy on responsible seabed mining, will combine ReElement's refining capabilities with access to nodule resources in American Samoa's waters [1].

The agreement marks another key milestone in AREC's journey to deliver U.S.-processed, high-purity rare earth products to the global value chain. The company is investing in and developing efficient upstream and downstream critical mineral operations, including mining interests in conventional and unconventional sources, recycling, and manufacturing [3]. This initiative positions AREC at the forefront of a nascent but potentially transformative industry that combines resource security, advanced processing technology, and strategic geopolitical considerations in the critical minerals sector.

The MOU between AREC and ASEDA is part of a broader effort to create a resilient, environmentally sound, and sustainable supply network for critical minerals. The agreement explicitly mentions leveraging Defense Department infrastructure, which could streamline permitting and reduce capital requirements for facility development. This announcement builds upon ReElement's earlier MOU with Impossible Metals for toll processing of deep sea nodules, suggesting a rapidly developing vertical integration strategy [1].

References:
[1] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/AREC/re-element-technologies-corporation-and-the-american-samoa-economic-xwq4wn0nzzqq.html
[2] https://www.relementtech.com/
[3] https://www.americanresourcescorp.com/