In a recent publication, Pini Althaus, a mining executive and expert on critical minerals, highlighted the underutilized potential of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in supporting America’s critical mineral security, particularly through its work in Central Asia. Althaus critiques the current framework of USGS operations, asserting that its activities, while scientifically impactful, often benefit foreign competitors, particularly China, more than the United States itself.
Current USGS Efforts in Central Asia
The USGS has been actively involved in mineral resource mapping and assessments across Central Asia, including resource-rich nations like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. These countries boast significant reserves of rare earth elements (REEs), uranium, and other critical minerals essential for advanced technologies and defense industries. For example, the USGS completed an inventory in the region from 2012 to 2016, identifying 384 occurrences of rare and critical minerals, including 160 in Kazakhstan and 87 in Uzbekistan.
While these efforts contribute to scientific understanding and global development, Althaus points out that the data collected by USGS, funded by American taxpayers, is often made publicly available without prioritization of U.S. strategic interests. This allows foreign competitors, including Chinese state-owned enterprises, to utilize the information strategically, often outmaneuvering U.S. companies in securing access to these valuable resources.
The Need for Strategic Alignment
Althaus argues that the USGS should adopt a model akin to Japan’s government-backed agency, JOGMEC, which aligns geological surveys with national and commercial interests. JOGMEC ensures that Japanese companies benefit directly from government-led mineral exploration endeavors through investments, offtake agreements, and first-mover advantages. He proposes several measures to recalibrate the USGS’s role to serve U.S. critical mineral goals:
- Strategic Mapping: Prioritize surveys in countries open to U.S. partnerships, securing agreements favoring U.S. stakeholders.
- Data Access Restrictions: Delay public release of mapping data until U.S. firms have assessed and acted on it.
- Government-to-Government MOUs: Establish formal agreements with host nations like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to give U.S. firms preferential access to concessions mapped by the USGS.
- Collaboration: Foster partnerships between USGS and local geological bureaus, including joint ventures with U.S. companies.
- Budget Expansion: Increase the USGS budget proportionately to enable its strategic re-orientation.
The Strategic Importance of Central Asia
Central Asia’s critical mineral reserves are pivotal in the global supply chain, offering an opportunity for the U.S. to counter its dependency on China. For instance, Kazakhstan alone is a world leader in reserves of rare earth elements, uranium, and chromium, while Uzbekistan holds significant untapped deposits. Despite this, China currently dominates mineral processing and export, underscoring the urgency for the U.S. to establish stronger ties with the region and promote American access to these resources.
A Call for Action
Althaus’s call to “weaponize” the USGS emphasizes utilizing the bureau’s expertise strategically to enhance U.S. economic and national security. This involves balancing the USGS’s mandate for scientific rigor with an alignment of its outcomes to American commercial and geopolitical priorities. He contends that such a shift would not only secure critical mineral supply chains but also foster economic growth through U.S.-led mining and resource development initiatives.
At a time when global competition for critical minerals is intensifying, aligning the USGS’s efforts with national interests is essential to ensuring America’s resilience in technology and defense industries. Althaus’s perspective underscores the need for decisive action to transform the USGS into a keystone of U.S. strategic mineral security.
