The Department of War announced a Defense Production Act Title III award of $43.4 million to Alaska Range Resources, LLC (ARR) on September 30, 2025, to establish domestic extraction, concentration, and refining of stibnite for military-grade antimony trisulfide production. ARR will carry out the work at the Estelle Project in Stibium, Alaska, where the company is already executing a mining operation. Funding comes from the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022. The award aligns with Executive Order 14241, signed March 20, 2025, directing immediate measures to increase American mineral production.
What it means
Antimony trisulfide is used in primer production and case hardening, particularly in low and medium caliber munitions. The Department of War identified China and Russia as controlling the market for antimony and all its derivatives, a condition the department said puts the United States at risk of supply interruptions that could jeopardize national security. Under the award, ARR will complete environmental studies to finalize permitting, conduct geological surveys and testing to optimize drilling, conclude its metallurgical study, initiate stibnite extraction, and construct and commission both a concentration plant and a refinery. Stibnite is described by the department as the most abundant naturally occurring ore of antimony, with deposits at Stibium, Alaska, and additional prospects across the broader Estelle Project. Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy Mike Cadenazzi said the award advances North American sourcing of antimony trisulfide for the defense industrial base. Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Resilience Jeffrey Frankston said establishing domestic sources for antimony and its compounds enhances the long-term resilience of U.S. supply chains.
The award is one of 17 made by the DPA Purchases Office since the beginning of fiscal year 2025, totaling $856.2 million across all recipients. The DPA Purchases Office is overseen by the Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization directorate.
Key facts
- Award amount: $43.4 million, DPA Title III, to Alaska Range Resources, LLC
- Award date: September 30, 2025
- Location: Estelle Project, Stibium, Alaska
- Funding source: Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022
- Executive Order 14241, “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production,” signed March 20, 2025
- Total DPA Purchases Office awards since start of fiscal year 2025: 17 awards valued at $856.2 million
- Total recipient cost shares since start of fiscal year 2025: $88.0 million
- Overseeing body: Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) directorate
Source: Department of War news release / contract announcement (war.gov)