Under Secretary Fernandez Co-Chairs Minerals Security Partnership Principals’ Meeting

In London, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez joined the United Kingdom (UK) Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade Nusrat Ghani to co-chair the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) Principals’ Meeting. The U.S. delegation included Chair of the Export-Import Bank of the United States Reta Jo Lewis and colleagues from the Department of State and Department of Energy. At the London ministerial, MSP partners engaged private sector investors and emerging minerals-producing countries on advancing critical minerals projects across the globe that promote resilient and diverse supply chains and uphold high environmental, social, and governance standards.

The United States is investing at home and abroad to diversify critical minerals supply chains and secure raw materials access for American industry. Recently, the Board of Directors of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) approved a loan of up to $150 million in financing to Twigg Exploration and Mining to fund investments in the company’s graphite mining and processing operation in Balama, Mozambique. DFC’s support will lead to job creation and investment in local infrastructure while ensuring high environmental and social standards that are essential for responsible mining. This investment complements an investment by Twigg’s parent company, Syrah Resources, in the Vidalia graphite active anode material processing facility in Louisiana, which received a loan from the U.S. Department of Energy. These efforts represent a key contribution toward the goals of the Minerals Security Partnership and the U.S. critical minerals strategy, working together with a strong private sector partner.

Visit the State Department’s MSP webpage to learn more: https://www.state.gov/minerals-security-partnership/.

To stay up to date, follow Under Secretary Fernandez on Twitter: @State_E  , Facebook: @StateDeptE  , and LinkedIn: @State-E  .

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