Nova Minerals Corp (ASX:NVA, NYSE-A:NVA, FRA:QM30) has reinforced the strategic role of its Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project in the United States’ push for secure domestic antimony supply following high-level discussions with the US Department of Energy (DoE).
Chief executive Christopher Gerteisen attended an invite-only roundtable in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he briefed US officials on Nova’s plans to establish an integrated antimony mining, processing and refining supply chain, including production of military-grade antimony trisulfide.
US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright reiterated the importance of antimony production from Estelle to the government’s domestic critical minerals objectives and outlined initiatives aimed at strengthening Alaska’s power generation and transmission infrastructure.
US backing for antimony strategy
Nova is developing an integrated operation in Alaska backed by a US$43.4 million US Department of War award, which fully funds phase one of the company’s proposed antimony production strategy.
Proposed DoE infrastructure initiatives could also provide the power required for a future phase-two expansion of its vertically integrated military-grade antimony trisulfide operations.
Gerteisen said the roundtable underscored the strategic importance being placed on Estelle and its potential contribution to US critical mineral security, with antimony used across defence, energy storage and electronics.
“Nova Minerals’ participation in the US Department of Energy roundtable emphasises the strategic importance the U.S Government has placed on our Alaskan Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project and its fast-tracked antimony production for the domestic supply chain,” Gerteisen said.
“Antimony is essential to our national and economic security, with applications in defence, energy storage, and electronics. Roundtable discussions reinforced the critical role antimony production from Estelle will have in supporting US critical minerals security.”
Port MacKenzie project moves towards construction
Development work is advancing alongside exploration at Estelle, where Nova currently has three diamond drill rigs operating around the clock as part of its 2026 field season.
Almost 500 tons of crushing, ore sorting, milling, flotation and refining equipment is expected to arrive by barge at Nova’s planned Port MacKenzie antimony processing and refinery site in early September.
Construction is due to begin following delivery, with phase-one antimony trisulfide production targeted for 2027.
Once completed, the refinery is expected to operate as a US strategic processing and toll-treatment facility producing refined antimony products for defence, industrial and critical technology supply chains.