U.S. Department of Energy selects Core Natural to develop a pilot facility extracting critical minerals from coal waste under a multi-million-dollar grant.
The U.S. Department of Energy has chosen Core Natural Resources to negotiate a multi-million-dollar grant for a pilot project extracting rare earth elements and critical minerals from coal waste. The funding, part of a program to expand domestic critical minerals recovery, remains contingent on final negotiations and has not yet been disclosed in full.
The initiative targets coal waste tailings from Core’s Pennsylvania Mining Complex, aiming to reduce U.S. reliance on overseas supply chains, particularly from China. Rare earth elements are essential for defense technologies, electric vehicles, and renewable energy systems. The project aligns with broader federal efforts to secure domestic sources of these materials.
Core Natural’s CEO stated the project could demonstrate coal’s value beyond traditional fuel markets by recovering strategic minerals. The pilot facility, if finalized, would mark a step toward diversifying critical mineral sourcing in the U.S.