Alaska Energy Metals Hails US Presidential Executive Order on Domestic Critical Mineral Mining and Implications for the Nikolai Nickel Project, Alaska, USA

Rhea-AI Summary

Alaska Energy Metals (AKEMF) welcomes a new Executive Order titled 'Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production' issued on March 20, 2025. The order aims to boost domestic mineral production with several key initiatives:

• Department of Defense will use the Defense Production Act to increase domestic mineral investment
• U.S. International Development Finance will finance domestic mineral projects
• Export-Import Bank will provide financing for raw materials
• Adds copper and gold to critical minerals list
• Expedites permitting and approvals for mining projects

The company highlights that its Nikolai project contains the largest known nickel resource in the United States, along with six other critical metals (copper, cobalt, chromium, platinum, palladium, and gold). AEMC believes its pending grant application through the Defense Production Act is well-positioned given these developments.

Positive

• Nikolai project confirmed as largest known nickel resource in US
• Project contains 7 critical/strategic metals on US Defense list
• Potential access to Defense Production Act funding
• New expedited permitting process could accelerate development
• Additional financing options through Export-Import Bank and DFC

Negative

• None.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Executive Order issued on March 20, 2025 entitled Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production contains numerous positive implications for Alaska Energy Metals Corporation and the US mining industry broadly. AEMC hails this positive policy statement by President Trump and believes now more than ever that its application for grant funding through the US Department of Defense, Defense Production Act is timely and well positioned. The main points of the Executive Order include:

  • The US Department of Defense will utilize the Defense Production Act to boost investment in domestic mineral production.

  • The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation will use Defense Production Act funds to finance domestic mineral projects.

  • The Export-Import Bank will provide financing to secure raw materials for domestic mineral processing.

  • Adds copper and gold to the list of critical and strategic minerals.

  • Department of Defense will facilitate buyer agreements for minerals and expedite procurement.

  • The order directs agencies to achieve expediting permitting and approvals.

• Alaska Energy Metals Corporation has recently documented that its Nikolai project hosts the largest known nickel resource in the United States and now contains seven metals on the US Department of Defense critical and strategic metals list.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 24, 2025 / Alaska Energy Metals Corporation (TSX-V:AEMC)(OTCQB:AKEMF) ("AEMC" or the "Company") welcomes news of an Executive Order issued by President Trump entitled Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production.

Alaska Energy Metals President & CEO Gregory Beischer commented, "As promised in his Joint Address to Congress earlier this month, President Trump has taken bold steps to ramp up domestic critical mineral production. Along with a prior Executive Order entitled Unleashing Alaska's Tremendous Resource Potential, the stage has been set to dramatically improve the investment climate for mining of critical minerals in the US and Alaska. Our Nikolai project now is known to host seven critical and strategic metals - predominantly nickel - but with copper, cobalt, chromium, platinum, palladium and gold, and is the largest known nickel resource in the United States. The positive initiatives contained in the Executive Order, particularly those related to financing through the Defense Production Act, could bode well for our company.

The main components of the Executive Order include the following:

• Definitions and Scope - Defines minerals to include critical minerals, uranium, copper, potash, gold, and others as determined by the National Energy Dominance Council. The order covers the full spectrum of mineral production, from mining and processing to the creation of finished products like semiconductors, batteries, and wind turbines.

• Defense Production Act - The Department of Defense will utilize the long-standing Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA) to boost investment in domestic mineral production.

• Financing

  • The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) will use DPA funds to finance domestic mineral projects.

  • The Export-Import Bank will provide financing to secure raw materials for domestic mineral processing.

  • The Small Business Administration will develop legislative recommendations to support small businesses in mineral production.

  • The Department of Defense will facilitate buyer agreements of offtake agreements for minerals and expedite procurement.

• Expediting Permitting and Approvals - Agencies are required toprovide a list of pending mineral production projects within 10 days. Priority projects that can be immediately approved will be identified, with expedited permitting. The Fast-41 Permitting Dashboard will be the mechanism for transparency measures. Additionally, industry feedback will be solicited on regulatory bottlenecks.

• Revising Land Use Policies for Mining - The order requires federal lands with known mineral deposits to be prioritized for mining-related purposes and federal agencies must identify additional federal land suitable for leasing to private companies for mineral production. Under the order, the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy will facilitate private mining enterprises through extended leases.

• Modernizing the Mining Act of 1872 - Reforms will be proposed to Congress regarding waste rock, tailings, and mine waste disposal.

• Disclosures - Agencies will rescind certain regulatory disclosure requirements for applicants seeking federal financial support.

For additional information, visit: https://alaskaenergymetals.com/

ABOUT ALASKA ENERGY METALS

Alaska Energy Metals Corporation (AEMC) is an Alaska-based corporation with offices in Anchorage and Vancouver working to sustainably deliver the critical materials needed for national security and a bright energy future, while generating superior returns for shareholders.

AEMC is focused on delineating and developing the large-scale, bulk tonnage, polymetallic Nikolai Project Eureka deposit containing nickel, copper, cobalt, chromium, iron, platinum, palladium, and gold. Located in Interior Alaska near existing transportation and power infrastructure, its flagship project, Nikolai, is well-situated to become a significant domestic source of strategic metals for North America. AEMC also holds a secondary project in western Quebec; the Angliers - Belleterre project. Today, material sourcing demands excellence in environmental performance, technological innovation, carbon mitigation and the responsible management of human and financial capital. AEMC works every day to earn and maintain the respect and confidence of the public and believes that ESG performance is measured by action and led from the top.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Gregory Beischer"
Gregory Beischer, President & CEO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Gregory A. Beischer, President & CEO
Toll-Free: 877-217-8978 | Local: 604-609-7149

Some statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation), including, without limitation, the positive effects the President Executive Order may have on the Company. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements do not guarantee future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include but are not limited to uncertainty relating to the estimation of mineral resources, regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If the Company updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

SOURCE: Alaska Energy Metals Corporation

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What are the main benefits of the March 2025 Executive Order for AKEMF shareholders?

The order enables potential Defense Production Act funding, expedited permitting, and enhanced financing options through government agencies, potentially accelerating Nikolai project development.

How many critical metals does AKEMF's Nikolai project contain?

The Nikolai project contains seven critical and strategic metals: nickel, copper, cobalt, chromium, platinum, palladium, and gold.

What is the significance of AKEMF's Nikolai nickel resource in the United States?

The Nikolai project hosts the largest known nickel resource in the United States.

How will the Defense Production Act support AKEMF's mining operations?

The DPA will enable investment in domestic mineral production and provide potential financing through the U.S. International Development Finance

What new permitting advantages does the 2025 Executive Order provide for AKEMF?

The order requires expedited permitting processes, priority project identification, and streamlined approvals through the Fast-41 Permitting Dashboard.