M2i Global (OTC:MTWO) and Volato Group said Thursday it will lead a public-private initiative to establish the United States’ first Strategic Minerals Reserve (SMR), designed to secure supplies of metals essential to defense, clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
The public-private initiative, headquartered at the US Army’s Hawthorne Army Depot in Mineral County, aims to secure supplies of critical minerals such as gallium, graphite and copper, which are vital for defense systems, semiconductors, batteries and electric vehicles.
“This is not a stockpile, it’s a strategic capability,” said Major General (Ret) Alberto Rosende, CEO of M2i Global. “The Strategic Minerals Reserve represents a new kind of readiness, one that blends innovation, industry, and infrastructure…It’s about creating a durable advantage for the US across economic and defense priorities.”
Rosende said the project was designed to ensure Nevada plays a defining role in securing the nation’s economic and national future. “This is the right state, the right team, and the right time,” he added.
The announcement follows a Hoover Institution report that urged creation of a US-led multilateral critical minerals stockpile and has backing from federal agencies including the Department of Defense, the Defense Logistics Agency and the Department of Energy.
The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) also welcomed the initiative. “Nevada’s abundance in critical minerals presents an opportunity to drive innovation and economic opportunities across our state and beyond,” said GOED Executive Director Tom Burns.
M2i Global said the reserve will feature refining and recycling operations to close domestic processing gaps, AI tools to forecast material demand, and workforce training programs in partnership with Nevada universities. It added that the initiative will create jobs in the Hawthorne region and attract federal investment.
“We are building more than a supply chain, we are building a national platform for resilience,” said Doug Cole, executive chairman of M2i Global.
The SMR is actively contracting with private-sector and international partners to expand refining and recycling operations.