Westwater Resources Supports Executive Order to Increase American Mineral Production

Rhea-AI Summary

Westwater Resources (NYSE American: WWR) has expressed support for a new U.S. presidential executive order aimed at boosting domestic critical mineral production. The order, effective March 20, 2025, leverages the Defense Production Act and U.S. International Development Finance to provide financing and investment support for domestic mineral processing.

The initiative targets 15 critical minerals, including graphite, which is currently dominated by Chinese suppliers. According to CFO Steve Cates, this directive could potentially expedite the permitting process for Westwater's Coosa Deposit, recognized as the largest known graphite deposit in the contiguous United States, while potentially improving the company's access to financing.

Positive

• Executive order could accelerate permitting process for Coosa Deposit development
• Potential improved access to federal financing and investment support
• Company owns largest known graphite deposit in contiguous U.S.
• Strategic positioning to benefit from government initiative to reduce Chinese mineral dependence

Negative

• Project development still pending permitting approval
• Current complete dependence on Chinese graphite supply chain

CENTENNIAL, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Westwater Resources, Inc. (NYSE American: WWR), an energy technology and battery-grade natural graphite company (“Westwater” or the “Company”), supports U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order enacting immediate measures to increase U.S. critical mineral production.

The U.S. currently relies on imports of at least 15 critical minerals, including graphite which is currently supplied almost entirely by companies located in China. The new executive order effective March 20, 2025, names the Defense Production Act and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation as mechanisms for supporting an effort to provide financing, loans and other investment support to domestically process critical minerals.

Steve Cates, Westwater’s Chief Financial Officer, commented, “Importantly, the action affects both the mining of critical minerals and the processing of those materials after they are mined. The directive has the potential to positively impact the permitting process related to the development of our Coosa Deposit - which is the largest known graphite deposit in the contiguous U.S. As a result, we believe this executive order could accelerate and improve access to financing at Westwater.”

About Westwater Resources, Inc.

Westwater Resources is an energy technology company that is focused on developing battery-grade natural graphite. Westwater Resources’ primary project is the Kellyton Graphite Processing Plant that is under construction in east-central Alabama. In addition, Westwater Resources’ Coosa Graphite Deposit is the largest and most advanced natural flake graphite deposit in the contiguous United States — and is located across 41,965 acres (~17,000 hectares) in Coosa County, Alabama. For more information, visit westwaterresources.net.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are identified by words such as “increase,” “almost entirely,” “affects,” “expect,” “accelerate,” “improve,” “potential,” “positively impact,” “development,” and other similar words or phrases. Forward looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning: the importance of critical minerals including battery-grade graphite; establishing a graphite industry in the U.S.; tariffs associated with the importation of natural graphite into the U.S.; and the Company’s business plans for its Kellyton Graphite Processing Plant and its Coosa Graphite Deposit, including financing those plans. The Company cautions that there are factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. Those uncertainties and other factors are discussed in Westwater’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and subsequent securities filings, and they could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250324883494/en/

Westwater Resources, Inc.

Email: Info@WestwaterResources.net

Investor Relations

Email: Investorrelations@westwaterresources.net

Source: Westwater Resources, Inc.

FAQ

What is the impact of the new executive order on Westwater Resources (WWR)?

The executive order could accelerate permitting for WWR's Coosa Deposit development and improve access to federal financing and investment support.

When does the executive order supporting U.S. mineral production take effect?

The executive order takes effect on March 20, 2025.

How significant is Westwater Resources' (WWR) Coosa Deposit?

The Coosa Deposit is the largest known graphite deposit in the contiguous United States.

What federal mechanisms will support WWR's critical mineral production?

The Defense Production Act and U.S. International Development Finance will provide financing, loans, and investment support.

How does the executive order address the U.S. graphite supply chain?

The order aims to reduce U.S. dependence on Chinese graphite suppliers through domestic production and processing support.