Hoyt Lakes, Minn. – NewRange Copper Nickel, home to one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper and nickel resources, issued the following statement from Tannice McCoy, NewRange President & General Manager, in response to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) release of the 2025 draft critical mineral list:
“From the copper essential for data centers and AI advancements to nickel needed for batteries powering our smartphones and medical devices, the minerals found at NewRange are the backbone of America’s 21st century economy.
USGS’ draft critical mineral list, including the addition of copper for the first time in addition to renewing listings of nickel and cobalt, recognizes the role Minnesota’s Iron Range plays in securing our energy and national security.
We look forward to working with USGS, federal agencies and our state partners to responsibly develop a domestic supply of now three critical minerals that are at the heart of the US’ global competitiveness, found right here at NewRange.”
Background:
- As one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper and nickel resources, NewRange could meaningfully support the United States’ global competitiveness by creating a domestic supply chain of multiple critical minerals – all while limiting new environmental impacts and cleaning up former mine sites.
- Directed by law, USGS issues an updated critical mineral list every three years. This draft list now kicks off a 30-day public comment period prior to the issuance of a final list expected later this year.
- Copper is a new addition to the critical mineral list. Currently, the United States sources approximately 41% of its copper from foreign sources. With the influx of data center demand, that number is set to drastically increase over the next decade.
- The Duluth Complex, where NewRange is located, contains 95% of America’s nickel, 88% of its cobalt and more than 33% of its copper.
- A majority of NewRange’s NorthMet project is located in the footprint of a former mining site, giving it a unique ability to be a leader in clean and responsible mining operations to preserve clean rivers and lakes.
- NewRange has already completed significant remediation and recycling projects necessary to modernize the previous mining site. Demonstrating a culture of safety, NewRange completed this 80,000-labor hour program without a single lost time incident.
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About NewRange Copper Nickel
NewRange Copper Nickel is a 50:50 joint venture of subsidiaries of Teck Resources Limited and Glencore AG, holding the NorthMet and Sunrise deposits – two large, distinct, and well-defined copper-nickel PGM resources in the established Iron Range mining region of Minnesota. The stand-alone company is working to unlock two new domestic supplies of critical minerals for the low-carbon transition through responsible mining, and delivering significant, multi-generational economic and other benefits to the region and beyond. The company is based in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. For more information about NewRange and job opportunities, visit our website.
For media inquiries, please contact: media@newrangecoppernickel.com.