US Can't Refine Minerals, Driving Valuation Shift to Execution-Ready Platforms

North American markets have identified a structural failure in the US ability to refine minerals despite having the capacity to extract them. This is a national security vulnerability prompting federal intervention. Washington is investing in infrastructure to bypass outdated refining methods. This shift is driving institutional flows into Ares Strategic Mining, Energy Fuels, Electra Battery Materials, Aclara Resources, and Denison Mines. The catalyst is energy economics, as AI data centers absorb available baseload power and electricity costs rise.