DFC Joins $1.8 Billion Consortium to Secure Critical Mineral Supply Chains and Bolster U.S. Economic Growth and Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced that it has committed an investment aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and securing critical mineral supply chains essential to advancing U.S. economic growth, security, and innovation in energy and advanced technologies. The investment comes in response to the increasing demand for key minerals vital to energy, digital infrastructure, semiconductors, and other strategic areas. An investment consortium led by Orion Resource Partners LP, a leading global investment firm specializing in metals and materials, has created Orion Critical Mineral Consortium (Orion CMC) to invest in strategic critical minerals projects in DFC-eligible markets. Orion CMC will provide DFC and its partners with opportunities to invest in projects with the potential to produce near term sources of critical minerals, while addressing persistent gaps in financing for critical minerals in international markets that have allowed China and other U.S. strategic competitors to dominate global critical mineral markets and exert outsized influence over supply chains essential to U.S. economic growth and security. This commitment, which has been matched by both funds managed by Orion Resource Partners and ADQ, an active sovereign investor with a focus on critical infrastructure and global supply chains, brings the current size of the consortium to $1.8 billion. Collectively, Orion CMC represents the largest initiative to create secure supply chains for critical minerals to the United States and its allies. Further, the platform enables additional aligned capital providers to invest in the consortium alongside DFC to fund critical minerals projects. “Securing critical minerals is a paramount matter of U.S. strategic interest and economic prosperity,” said DFC CEO Ben Black. “Orion CMC was created to establish a robust pipeline of secure critical mineral investments vital to advancing American economic prosperity. I’m proud of the incredible work by DFC and its partners to secure these vital resources, which will safeguard America’s leadership in advanced technologies.” Oskar Lewnowski, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Orion Resource Partners LP, said, “We are delighted to partner with DFC in establishing this mission-driven consortium to help bridge the substantial funding gap needed to accelerate investment in the critical minerals supply chain and drive U.S. economic growth. Orion CMC brings together some of the most experienced operators in the industry with the expertise required to build a diversified portfolio of critical minerals assets across multiple jurisdictions. With the strong support of DFC and our partners, we look forward to delivering on the opportunity ahead.” DFC remains committed to enhancing the security and resilience of U.S. critical mineral supply chains through strategic investments that reduce reliance on adversarial powers and ensure the long-term prosperity of the U.S. economy and American people.