A new, mission-driven consortium, the Orion Critical Mineral Consortium (Orion CMC), has been launched. The goal is to strengthen US economic competitiveness and national security. The Consortium aims to develop secure, resilient supply chains for critical minerals. These minerals underpin future economic growth and global security.
$1.8 billion cornerstone funding:
Orion CMC is led by Orion Resource Partners LP. It is formed in partnership with the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The DFC made an initial capital commitment. Funds managed by Orion and ADQ (a sovereign investor) matched this commitment. This brings the current size of the Consortium to $1.8 billion. The platform is targeting a $5 billion total size.
Strategy and investment focus:
The Consortium will invest in critical minerals in emerging markets. It will prioritize investments in existing or near-term producing assets. This avoids long frontier exploration projects. The strategy is designed to quickly answer demand from the US and allied nations. Orion CMC will also manage mineral offtake and domestic processing.
CXOs hail strategic need:
Oskar Lewnowski, Founder and CEO, Orion, said, “Orion CMC represents a significant step forward in bridging the substantial funding gap needed to accelerate investment in the critical minerals supply chain, while at the same time boosting US economic growth.”
Ben Black, CEO, DFC, said, “Securing critical minerals is a paramount matter of the US strategic interest and economic prosperity.” Black also noted the goal is to establish a “robust pipeline of secure critical mineral investments.”
Frank Fannon, co-Founder, Orion CMC, said, “America has lacked a private sector champion that understands niche metals and commodities, that has emerging markets experience, and that has a successful track record of building and operating complex mining operations. Orion CMC is well-positioned to be that champion.”
