Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 24, The US government has partnered with Orion Resource Partners and Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund ADQ to launch a new billion-dollar initiative, the Orion Critical Mineral Consortium, aimed at investing in critical minerals. Announced Thursday, the consortium is supported by the US International Development Finance Corp. (DFC) and marks a major step in strengthening secure access to key resources.

Manganese stayed on the 2025 version of the USGS list of critical minerals.

Initial capital commitments from DFC, Orion, and ADQ total $1.8 billion, with plans to expand the fund to $5 billion in the future. According to Orion, the consortium will focus on “existing or near-term producing assets,” prioritizing projects that can supply critical minerals more rapidly rather than early-stage exploration initiatives that could take a decade to develop. The firm also noted that the initiative will engage with aligned investors and partner nations to secure resources essential for modern economic and industrial needs.

Orion Resource Partners CEO Oskar Lewnowski said: “This represents a significant step forward in bridging the substantial funding gap needed to accelerate investment in the critical minerals supply chain, while at the same time boosting US economic growth.” DFC CEO Ben Black added: “The consortium was created to establish a robust pipeline of secure critical mineral investments vital to advancing American economic prosperity.”

The consortium is part of a broader US strategy to strengthen domestic and allied capacity in the critical minerals sector, including materials such as copper, cobalt, and rare earths that are critical to the energy transition, advanced manufacturing, and defense applications. Earlier this week, the US signed an agreement with Australia to expand access to rare earths and other strategic materials, and it is negotiating a similar deal with the Democratic Republic of Congo, a leading cobalt and copper supplier.

US mining companies are also stepping up efforts to secure federal support. In July, MP Materials, the country’s only rare earth miner, entered into a public-private partnership with the Department of Defense to develop a domestic supply chain for rare earth magnets. These efforts reflect growing momentum in Washington to enhance critical mineral production through both public and private investments.

Orion, which manages approximately $8 billion in assets, has been expanding its international partnerships. Earlier this year, it announced a $1.2 billion venture with ADQ to invest in resource projects. The launch of the Orion Critical Mineral Consortium strengthens this collaboration, positioning both firms as key participants in reshaping Western access to essential raw materials.

By leveraging public-private cooperation and focusing on operational assets, the consortium aims to accelerate development of the critical minerals supply chain, strengthen economic resilience, and support industrial growth in the United States and allied nations. The initiative highlights the strategic importance of securing reliable access to minerals vital for energy, technology, and defense sectors.