Pakistan Minerals and Mining Updates

Pakistan has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an American metals company, the US Strategic Metals (USSM), it emerged on Monday.

The USSM, based in the state of Missouri, is focused on producing and recycling critical minerals, which the United States Department of Energy has defined as essential in a variety of technologies related to advanced manufacturing and energy production.

The USSM is a company that specialises in extracting critical metals from old lithium-ion batteries and mining cobalt, nickel and copper, according to its website. According to the American embassy, the US Department of Energy has defined critical minerals as essential in a variety of technologies related to advanced manufacturing and energy production.

A press release from the US Embassy, published on Sunday, stated that Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Zach Harkenrider accompanied a USSM-led delegation to sign an MoU with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) at the Prime Minister House.


Speaking about the MoU signing, US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker said, “This signing is yet another example of the strength of the US-Pakistan bilateral relationship that will benefit both countries.”


Speaking about the importance of such bilateral agreements, Baker said that US President Donald Trump’s administration has made forging such deals a key priority, based on the importance of critical mineral resources to American security and prosperity.

“We look forward to seeing future agreements between US companies and their counterparts in the critical minerals and mining sector in Pakistan.”

Pakistan’s relations with the US have been improving, with both nations recently signing trade deals. Islamabad successfully negotiated a reduction in reciprocal tariffs — from 29 per cent to 19pc — after the two nations concluded a trade deal in July.

This was after Trump announced that the US had concluded a deal with Islamabad that would allow the two allies to work together on developing Pakistan’s vast oil reserves.

In April this year, a senior US official had underscored Washington’s strategic interest in Pakistan’s mineral sector, signalling a push for long-term cooperation in the development of critical mineral resources key to American advanced technologies.

“Critical minerals are the raw materials necessary for our most advanced technologies,” Eric Meyer, senior bureau official for the Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, was quoted in a statement issued by the US embassy in Islamabad on his visit.
 

US metals company signs MoU with Pakistan on critical minerals


Abdullah Momand
September 8, 2025

Pakistan has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an American metals company, the US Strategic Metals (USSM), it emerged on Monday.

The USSM, based in the state of Missouri, is focused on producing and recycling critical minerals, which the United States Department of Energy has defined as essential in a variety of technologies related to advanced manufacturing and energy production.

The USSM is a company that specialises in extracting critical metals from old lithium-ion batteries and mining cobalt, nickel and copper, according to its website. According to the American embassy, the US Department of Energy has defined critical minerals as essential in a variety of technologies related to advanced manufacturing and energy production.

A press release from the US Embassy, published on Sunday, stated that Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Zach Harkenrider accompanied a USSM-led delegation to sign an MoU with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) at the Prime Minister House.


Speaking about the MoU signing, US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker said, “This signing is yet another example of the strength of the US-Pakistan bilateral relationship that will benefit both countries.”

Speaking about the importance of such bilateral agreements, Baker said that US President Donald Trump’s administration has made forging such deals a key priority, based on the importance of critical mineral resources to American security and prosperity.

“We look forward to seeing future agreements between US companies and their counterparts in the critical minerals and mining sector in Pakistan.”

Pakistan’s relations with the US have been improving, with both nations recently signing trade deals. Islamabad successfully negotiated a reduction in reciprocal tariffs — from 29 per cent to 19pc — after the two nations concluded a trade deal in July.

This was after Trump announced that the US had concluded a deal with Islamabad that would allow the two allies to work together on developing Pakistan’s vast oil reserves.

In April this year, a senior US official had underscored Washington’s strategic interest in Pakistan’s mineral sector, signalling a push for long-term cooperation in the development of critical mineral resources key to American advanced technologies.

“Critical minerals are the raw materials necessary for our most advanced technologies,” Eric Meyer, senior bureau official for the Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, was quoted in a statement issued by the US embassy in Islamabad on his visit.
 
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Fwo has licenses in chagai and Waziristan and an mou with ppl to explore minerals let's see what they make of it
 
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Pakistan signs $500m investment deals with US-based firms​


Deal to start Pakistan exports of antimony, copper, gold, tungsten, and rare earth elements

Our Correspondent
September 08, 2025


prime minister shehbaz sharif witnesses singing of an mou between national logistics corporation and mota engil group photo pid


Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif witnesses singing of an MoU between National Logistics Corporation and Mota-Engil Group. Photo: PID

Pakistan on Monday signed $500 million investment deals with two US-based companies. The deals are meant to develop and process critical minerals including rare earth elements, and to expand logistics infrastructure.

According to a statement issued from the Prime Minister’s Office, the agreements were signed during a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and a high-level US delegation that included United States Strategic Metals (USSM) and Mota-Engil, global firms in the mining and infrastructure sectors.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and several federal ministers also attended the meeting.
 
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The Frontier Works Organization (FWO), Pakistan’s largest miner of critical minerals, signed an MoU with USSM, a Missouri-based processor and recycler of rare metals. The agreement creates a framework for collaboration in minerals vital for the defence, aerospace and technology industries.

Separately, Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation signed MoU with Mota-Engil Group, a Portuguese construction and engineering firm, to cooperate on infrastructure projects.

Under the deal, cooperation will begin with exports of antimony, copper, gold, tungsten and rare earth elements from Pakistan. “The agreement also lays the groundwork for a proposed USSM poly-metallic refinery in Pakistan to produce intermediate and finished products for the US market,” it said.

“This collaboration further strengthens the enduring bilateral relationship between Pakistan and the US, while unlocking new opportunities for sustainable growth, technology transfer and job creation,” the statement said.

Next steps under the MoU include forming teams to assess Pakistan’s resource base, identify critical minerals for export and build a long-term partnership in exploration, extraction and processing. The cooperation will prioritise sustainability, profitability and environmental responsibility to ensure benefits for both nations.

“It was agreed to explore financing and digital solutions, including tokenisation of minerals, to attract global investors and increase transparency in the sector,” the statement added.

The US delegation also held meetings with the army chief, the petroleum minister and the commerce minister, and was briefed on Pakistan’s mineral reserves. The companies expressed readiness to invest in value-addition facilities, expand processing capacity and develop large-scale projects linked to mining.
 
Under the deal, cooperation will begin with exports of antimony, copper, gold, tungsten and rare earth elements from Pakistan. “The agreement also lays the groundwork for a proposed USSM poly-metallic refinery in Pakistan to produce intermediate and finished products for the US market,” it said.

Good good, lock them down with these kind of investments.
 
MoUs are non-binding agreements.

US Strategic Metals is an early-stage company. It is a very small company. All it currently has is a battery recycling facility. It is developing its first mine in the US.

The better alternative would have been to borrow against the assets underground as collateral, deploy the funds in a sovereign wealth fund, or invest in manufacturing capabilities to generate a long-term revenue stream, rather than this finite resource.

Not like I expected better from what we have.
 
Excellent news. Hope it puts PAK on the strategic minerals map.

Regards
 
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This is a really small company and most legitimate corporates leaders from America would not go on the record with this level of chamchagiri of the Field Marshal , Prime Minister and his cabinet.

Why do a sweetheart deal instead of a competitive bidding where the biggest companies in the world are invited to participate ?
 

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