NMA Mining Minute

National Mining Association
  • 0.0 (0)
  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • UPDATED DAILY

Your morning newscast covering the top mining-related stories of the day, brought to you by the National Mining Association. NMA is the only national trade organization that serves as the voice of the U.S. mining industry and the hundreds of thousands of American workers it employs before Congress, the federal agencies, the judiciary and the media, advocating for public policies that will help America fully and responsibly utilize its vast natural resources. We work to ensure America has secure and reliable supply chains, abundant and affordable energy, and the American-sourced materials necessary for U.S. manufacturing and economic security, all delivered under world-leading environmental, safety and labor standards.

  1. 8H AGO

    NMA Mining Minute 2-20-2026

    News reports indicate that the EPA will move today to repeal the prior administration's Mercury Air Toxics Standards – or MATS rule. The move is an important one because the rule was specifically designed to force the closure of coal plants, with revisions far too costly to justify the minimal emission reductions they would achieve, and standards set at levels that were not achievable in the real world. Reuters is reporting that the Democratic Republic of Congo is including specific critical mineral mines on a list of strategic assets that it is offering to the U.S. under a minerals cooperation framework the two countries are working to finalize. With some assets currently under rebel control, U.S. interests and investment are increasingly being drawn into the conflict-torn eastern Congo region. And finally, with strong demand and holdups in supply, prices of two key rare earths have rallied above the price floor provided by the U.S. government last year to MP Materials. The higher prices mean the U.S. government will not have to subsidize MP Materials operations and will also support production from other producers working to help cut the world's reliance on China.

    2 min

  2. 1D AGO

    NMA Mining Minute 2-19-2026

    The Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining yesterday released its final "ten-day notice" rule, reversing a Biden-era rule concerning federal government intervention on safety issues at coal mines. The rule reverts to language that was used prior to the Biden administration requiring federal regulators to work with the states before issuing violations or taking enforcement actions. It's an important action because it restores the system that respects state primacy, while maintaining appropriate federal oversight. In a separate move yesterday aimed at restoring the appropriate federal/state balance, the DOI signed an agreement with West Virginia regulators, giving the state increased authority to regulate its coal mining and reclamation. In inking the agreement, Secretary Burgun said, in part, "By empowering West Virginia to take the lead, we're streamlining regulations, boosting certainty for coal producers and supporting jobs and investment that strengthen our economy and energy security." Interior has similar agreements with a dozen other states. And finally, because not a day goes by without a critical minerals deal, the US has signed an agreement with Uzbekistan to secure access to that country's mineral resources. The "Joint Investment Framework" prioritize investments across the mineral value chain including exploration, extraction and processing, and proposes a new US–Uzbekistan Joint Investment Holding Company for future minerals and infrastructure projects.

    2 min

  3. 2D AGO

    NMA Mining Minute 2-18-2026

    Bloomberg is reporting that the US has developed a critical minerals price floor system. It's working to gain support from partner countries for the new system that was developed by multiple agencies to help alleviate the pressure on the US and its allies from foreign market manipulation. President Trump is scheduled on Thursday to travel to Georgia, where he will talk about affordability issues, and a new critical minerals facility in the state, which is part of the US--Japan trade deal that was struck last year. Finally, in Wyoming, the state is considering legislation that would use some excise tax revenues for an "energy dominance fund." The bill would create a grant and loan program supporting fossil fuel, uranium and rare-earth minerals production. The bill is supported by the White House, which said it should be used as a model for other states.

    2 min

  4. 3D AGO

    NMA Mining Minute 2-17-2026

    Speaking at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on allies to work together to secure supplies of rare earths and other minerals. He urged European countries to join the US in building a Western supply chain for critical minerals that would not be vulnerable to market manipulation. Away from Munich, Mexico and Canada announced that they are working on a joint action plan on minerals, infrastructure and supply chains in the second half of the year. The announcement came after a meeting between Mexico's Economy Minister and Canada's Minister of Trade in Mexico City yesterday. And for the first time in more than 50 years, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Friday approved licenses for new nuclear fuel facilities. The Tennessee based facilities plan to use "TRISO" fuel, which is known as the "most robust nuclear fuel on Earth." The challenge will be securing the pure form of uranium the fuel requires which is currently produced at-scale in only Russia and China. There are a number of startups working towards production in the U.S. but it is another example of the need to secure our domestic supply chains and wean the US off of foreign suppliers.

    2 min

  5. 4D AGO

    NMA Mining Minute Special: Chips

    AI, data centers, processors. The big data moment is built on a foundation provided by extraordinary physical infrastructure. Few realize how large, or the materials required to make it happen. There are tens of thousands to potentially millions of specialized semiconductor chips in new data centers. To make just one of these chips requires a dizzying variety of minerals. Silicon, Gallium, Germanium, Palladium, Tungsten, Cobalt, Gold and copper are just some of minerals needed for a single chip. And of course it's not just about chips. Data centers themselves require vast amounts of metal for their construction, particularly for their power networks, circuit boards and cooling systems. A study of a $500 million Microsoft data center in Chicago found it used nearly 2,200 tons of copper. And that data center is now dwarfed by a new class of facilities. The bottom line is this: As the U.S. confronts the AI industrial arms race, getting our minerals and mining policy right, is simply nonnegotiable. That's your mining minute for this morning. Tune in for more from NMA TV.

    1 min

  6. FEB 13

    NMA Mining Minute 2-13-2026

    The Trump administration yesterday repealed of the Obama-era endangerment finding, which says that greenhouse gases harm human health, served as the legal and scientific justification for most federal rules that combat climate change. In repealing the finding, according to reporting, the EPA argues that the Clean Air Act only empowers the agency to regulate pollutants that pose a direct danger to the public from exposure and that U.S. sectors like new vehicles contribute so little to global warming that they don't warrant regulation. The National Energy Dominance Council celebrated its one year anniversary yesterday and, in doing so, its chair Interior Secretary Doug Burgum highlighted the council's priorities: which are to help projects related to critical minerals and energy get built.  "If you have not talked to [the dominance council], you need to," said Burgum. Finally, The Trump administration is reportedly looking at how Venezuela's minerals can present economic opportunity for the country. While it has known deposits of gold, bauxite, and other critical minerals it lacks the infrastructure or mapping to have a clear view on how to take advantage of those resources. The administration hopes that "American and other aligned companies have fair access to the Venezuelan market will help the economy recover from a decade of neglect."

    2 min

  7. FEB 12

    NMA Mining Minute 2-12-2026

    As we previewed yesterday, President Trump hosted members of the coal industry at the White House where he received an award from the Washington Coal Club, signed an executive order directing the Department of War to buy electricity from coal plants, and announced funding for coal plant upgrades.  Nickel prices are up again today after Indonesia ordered the world's largest nickel mine to cut output. It's a move aimed at tightening global supply and lifting prices. Finally, on Capitol Hill, the House approved the "Securing America's Critical Minerals Supply Act," which defines all energy sector minerals that are vulnerable to supply chain disruptions as "critical energy resources," and directs DOE to study way to secure those supply chains. Also in the House, the House Natural Resources Committee approved an amended version of the "Critical Mineral Consistency Act," which is meant to align the USGS list of critical minerals with the Department of Energy's list.

    1 min

  8. FEB 11

    NMA Mining Minute 2-11-2026

    President Trump today welcomes the coal industry—including members of the National Mining Association—back to the White House where he will receive an award from the Washington Coal Club and will reportedly make a number of announcements, including an executive order concerning the Department of War buying electricity from coal plants and funding awards to five coal plants for facilities upgrades. We'll have more on that event for you tomorrow. The nation's largest federal utility, Tennessee Valley Authority, may extend the life of coal units at two of its largest power plants. A vote is expected at its board of directors meeting as soon as today. Finally, the U.S. is reportedly using offtake deals and state-backed to edge out China in securing African copper, cobalt and other minerals. The US government is reportedly focusing on Zambia, Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    1 min
See All (155)

About

Your morning newscast covering the top mining-related stories of the day, brought to you by the National Mining Association. NMA is the only national trade organization that serves as the voice of the U.S. mining industry and the hundreds of thousands of American workers it employs before Congress, the federal agencies, the judiciary and the media, advocating for public policies that will help America fully and responsibly utilize its vast natural resources. We work to ensure America has secure and reliable supply chains, abundant and affordable energy, and the American-sourced materials necessary for U.S. manufacturing and economic security, all delivered under world-leading environmental, safety and labor standards.

Information

  • Creator
    National Mining Association
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    155
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    NMA Mining Minute