Gunnison Copper Corp (TSX:GCU, OTCQB:GCUMF, FRA:3XS0) said on Thursday it has joined the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC), a US government-backed initiative aimed at strengthening domestic supply chains for critical minerals and defense-related technologies.
The consortium, overseen by the US Department of Defense, is focused on accelerating industrial capacity and reducing reliance on foreign sources for materials considered vital to national security, including copper.
Gunnison said its membership could provide access to non-dilutive funding opportunities, strategic partnerships and programs designed to speed up development of US-based critical mineral supply.
“Membership in the DIBC marks an important milestone for Gunnison as we continue to position ourselves as a reliable, scalable, domestic source of copper for US defense and manufacturing supply chains,” CFO Craig Hallworth said in a statement.
The company highlighted its ability to rapidly bring projects into production, noting it restarted its Johnson Camp Mine in 2025 in under 18 months from construction decision to first output.
That restart was supported by $13.9 million in tax credits from the US Department of Energy under its Section 48C program, reflecting alignment with federal efforts to bolster domestic industrial capacity.
Gunnison is also advancing its flagship Gunnison Copper Project in Arizona, which it said could produce up to 174 million pounds of copper annually. The company said such output would represent a significant contribution to US refined copper supply and could support defense manufacturing, including ammunition components, electrical systems and advanced platforms such as drones and communications equipment.
The company added that the final value of its previously awarded tax credits remains subject to regulatory requirements and agreements with project partners.