Nova Minerals Corp (ASX:NVA, NYSE-A:NVA) has highlighted the strategic importance of its integrated Alaska antimony development following a new White House executive order prioritising secure domestic and allied critical mineral supply chains for the US defence sector.
The order, signed on July 20, 2026, aligns closely with its plans to establish an end-to-end US antimony supply chain spanning mining at the Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project through to refining at Port MacKenzie.
Nova is targeting first antimony production from its planned pilot plant in 2027, supported by a US$43.4 million Defence Production Act Title III award from the US Department of War.
“This Executive Order reflects the direction of US policy on critical minerals sourcing that has informed our work at the Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project and our planned
processing infrastructure at Port MacKenzie,” Nova Minerals CEO Christopher Gerteisen said.
“It aligns directly with our vision to develop responsible, world-class mining and refining operations that contribute to US resource security and national defence priorities.
“With the support of the US Department of War, we remain focused on delivering a US domestic antimony supply chain, targeting production in 2027.”
Executive order strengthens demand for secure antimony
The executive order establishes a policy preference for military equipment and the critical materials used to manufacture and sustain it to be sourced from the United States or trusted allied nations.
It also calls for end-to-end supply chain traceability, verification of raw material origin and assessment of foreign ownership and supply risks, while restricting materials linked to
designated foreign adversaries.
The measures could accelerate demand from defence contractors for compliant domestic and allied sources of antimony, a mineral considered important to US economic resilience and defence capability.
Integrated Alaska supply chain advancing
Nova is developing an antimony mine at Estelle and a downstream processing facility at Port MacKenzie, both in Alaska.
Engineering and design work for the Port MacKenzie pilot plant has been completed, while equipment procurement is underway, with key components delivered or in transit.
Construction is expected to begin in the coming months.
The scalable processing hub is being designed to treat concentrate from Estelle as well as potential third-party feedstock sourced from domestic and allied producers.
Once completed, the facility is expected to provide US-based processing and toll-treatment capacity and supply defence contractors with compliant military-grade antimony products.