In the United States, surging demand for electricity driven by artificial intelligence is spotlighting copper as a vital mineral for data centers and power grids. According to a recent YouTube analysis by industry experts, US copper production has stagnated for decades, increasing reliance on imports amid accelerating global demand. In Arizona, Rio Tinto's Resolution Copper Mine targets a massive underground deposit nearly seven thousand feet deep, holding two billion tons of ore at one and a half percent copper grade, the second largest undeveloped deposit worldwide. This could yield forty billion pounds over forty years, meeting about a quarter of projected US demand, though regulatory delays and rising costs hinder progress.

The US Energy Information Administration reports that US crude oil production hit a record thirteen point six million barrels per day in twenty twenty-five, up three percent or three hundred fifty thousand barrels per day from prior years. Production from the Lower Forty-Eight states excluding the Gulf of Mexico accounted for eleven point three million barrels per day, or eighty-three percent of the total, with the Permian Basin driving gains through modifications that boosted tight oil by zero point two million barrels per day and shale gas by zero point eight billion cubic feet per day. Marketed natural gas production also set a record at one hundred eighteen point five billion cubic feet per day, up five point three billion cubic feet per day, led by Appalachia, Permian, and Haynesville regions which comprised sixty-seven percent of output and eighty-one percent of growth.

The Energy Department announced a funding opportunity of up to sixty-nine million dollars through the Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator Program to bolster American critical minerals supply chains. Worldwide, BHP is pursuing large-scale copper exploration in Zambia per the mines ministry, while Rio Tinto reports a copper production surge offsetting iron ore issues, according to Mining dot com. Emerging patterns show US energy dominance in oil and gas contrasting mineral vulnerabilities, with strategic pushes for domestic copper and funding to counter China-dominated processing and secure supplies for tech-driven electrification. Copper prices hover around five dollars sixty-three cents per pound, underscoring market pressures.

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In the United States, crude oil production reached a record high in 2025, averaging 13.6 million barrels per day, up 3 percent or 350,000 barrels per day from the previous year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's latest Short-Term Energy Outlook. The Lower 48 states excluding the Gulf of Mexico accounted for 11.3 million barrels per day, or 83 percent of the total, with the remainder from the Federal Gulf of Mexico and Alaska.

Marketed natural gas production also hit a new record last year at 118.5 billion cubic feet per day, growing by 5.3 billion cubic feet per day, as reported in the EIA's Natural Gas Monthly. The Appalachia, Permian, and Haynesville regions drove 67 percent of total production and 81 percent of the growth, highlighting the Permian Basin's dominance. The EIA recently updated its Permian estimates in the March 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook, adding the Avalon, Barnett, Dean, and Woodford plays while removing the Delaware and Yeso-Glorieta plays, resulting in a net increase of 0.2 million barrels per day for tight oil and 0.8 billion cubic feet per day for shale gas in 2025.

Coal exports fell sharply by 16 million short tons to 93 million short tons in 2025, per U.S. Census Bureau data cited by the EIA, with thermal coal down 18 percent and metallurgical coal down 11 percent. Coke production for steel manufacturing dropped to 10 million short tons, an 78 percent decline since 1980, reflecting reduced demand.

On the minerals front, the U.S. Geological Survey is supporting 13 states in assessing critical minerals in mine waste from former and active mines, aiming to inventory valuable resources. The agency also released an assessment estimating 28.3 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas and 1.6 billion barrels of oil in the Woodford and Barnett shales of New Mexico and Texas.

The Energy Department announced a funding opportunity of up to 69 million dollars through the Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator Program to bolster domestic supply chains. Meanwhile, Oxfam warns via Mining.com that fast-tracking U.S. critical minerals development without safeguards could undermine environmental and community protections by compressing timelines.

Motor gasoline consumption averaged 8.9 million barrels per day in 2025, down 1 percent from 2024 and 4 percent from pre-pandemic levels, while rooftop solar capacity surpassed natural gas to become the second-largest source after petroleum liquids. These trends signal a shift toward diversified energy with record fossil fuel output amid declining coal use and rising focus on critical minerals security.

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U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued emergency orders to keep two Indiana coal plants operational, ensuring affordable, reliable, and secure electricity for Americans in the Midwest region. The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Dominance Financing announced a conditional commitment for a loan of up to 263 million dollars to SHINE Chrysalis, LLC, supporting construction of Chrysalis, a high-volume medical isotope production facility in Janesville, Wisconsin. The Department of Energy's Office of Indian Energy announced a 50 million dollar notice of funding opportunity to foster affordable, reliable, and secure energy solutions in Indian Country.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that U.S. crude oil production grew by 3 percent, or 350,000 barrels per day, in 2025, setting a new annual record of 13.6 million barrels per day. Production from the Lower 48 states excluding the Gulf of Mexico accounted for 11.3 million barrels per day, or 83 percent of the total, with the rest from Federal Gulf of Mexico and Alaska. U.S. marketed natural gas production reached a new record in 2025, growing by 5.3 billion cubic feet per day to average 118.5 billion cubic feet per day, with Appalachia, Permian, and Haynesville regions accounting for 67 percent of total production and 81 percent of growth.

The Department of the Interior announced record U.S. energy production in 2025 under the American Energy Dominance Agenda, with offshore oil production totaling over 714 million barrels, the highest annual output on record. It also made a record-breaking disbursement of 460.9 million dollars in energy revenue to Gulf of Mexico energy-producing states Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, plus their coastal counties and parishes.

In minerals, the U.S. Geological Survey released an assessment estimating 28.3 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas and 1.6 billion barrels of oil in the Woodford and Barnett shales of New Mexico and Texas. Revival Gold reported final assays from its 2025 drill program at the past-producing Mercur gold project in Utah, with highlight hole RMC25-031 underscoring expansion potential. Uranium Energy Corp started in-situ recovery operations at its Burke Hollow project in Texas, marking the first such U.S. project.

These developments highlight a pattern of aggressive U.S. energy dominance, with record oil and gas outputs, coal preservation for grid reliability, tribal investments, and mineral exploration advances amid global supply chain concerns.

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# Recent Energy and Mineral News

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, American crude oil production reached a historic milestone in 2025, growing by three percent or 350,000 barrels per day to set a new annual production record of 13.6 million barrels per day. The Lower 48 states excluding the Gulf of America accounted for 11.3 million barrels per day, representing 83 percent of total U.S. crude oil production, with the remainder coming from Federal Gulf of America waters and Alaska. The EIA also reported that U.S. marketed natural gas production reached a new record in 2025, growing by 5.3 billion cubic feet per day to average 118.5 billion cubic feet per day. Three regions, Appalachia, Permian, and Haynesville, accounted for 67 percent of total marketed gas production and 81 percent of growth last year.

On the uranium front, Energy Fuels reported significant developments at its Pinyon Plain Mine in Arizona. The company mined 638,700 pounds of uranium during the second quarter of 2025, establishing itself as one of the top new uranium mines globally. In April 2025, the mine produced a record monthly output of 151,400 pounds of uranium oxide contained in ore, with ore grades and production continuing to exceed historic records and expectations. Energy Fuels has also commenced producing heavy rare earth element oxides at its White Mesa Mill at pilot scale and could be positioned to produce separated heavy rare earth oxides on a commercial basis.

The U.S. Geological Survey finalized its 2025 List of Critical Minerals in November 2025, adding silver for the first time in the list's history. The designation recognizes silver as essential to U.S. economic and national security, with a supply chain vulnerable to disruption. Two months later, the White House invoked national security law to address the country's dependence on foreign silver supply, initiating a 180-day negotiation clock with potential tariffs and price floors on the table if talks stall.

In deep-sea mining developments, American Ocean Minerals is merging with Odyssey Marine Exploration in a reverse takeover that will create a roughly one billion dollar market capitalization deep-sea mining company. The all-stock transaction aims to build a U.S. controlled deep-sea mining platform to secure rare earth supply chains and challenge China's dominance in the minerals race.

Additionally, the Northern Miner reports that the European Union and the United States are nearing a deal to coordinate critical minerals production and supply chains, aiming to reduce reliance on China. Several mining projects are advancing permitting stages, including Liberty Gold's Black Pine project in southeastern Idaho, which recently confirmed the start of a federal environmental review by the United States Forest Service.

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U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued emergency orders to keep a Colorado coal plant and two Indiana coal plants operational, ensuring affordable, reliable, and secure electricity for Americans in Colorado and the Midwest region, according to the Department of Energy. He also authorized an immediate thirteen percent increase in exports at Venture Global's Plaquemines liquefied natural gas terminal in Louisiana, boosting U.S. energy exports amid rising global demand. These actions highlight the Trump administration's push to maintain coal and natural gas operations against supply risks.

Energy Fuels reported record-breaking performance at its Pinyon Plain uranium mine in Arizona, mining six hundred thirty-eight thousand seven hundred pounds of uranium in the second quarter of 2025, with ore grades exceeding historic records and supporting domestic nuclear energy production. The company commenced pilot-scale production of heavy rare earth element oxides at its White Mesa Mill, positioning it to supply separated heavy rare earth oxides commercially, a critical step for U.S. mineral independence. In May 2025, Energy Fuels increased its uranium production guidance by twenty-two percent, driven by surging prices and supportive policies.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration noted U.S. crude oil production hit a new annual record of thirteen point six million barrels per day in 2025, up three percent or three hundred fifty thousand barrels per day, with Lower Forty-Eight states excluding the Gulf of Mexico accounting for eighty-three percent. Marketed natural gas production reached one hundred eighteen point five billion cubic feet per day, a five point three billion cubic feet per day increase, led by Appalachia, Permian, and Haynesville regions contributing sixty-seven percent of total output.

The Department of the Interior disbursed a record four hundred sixty point nine million dollars in energy revenue to Gulf of Mexico states Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas on March twenty-seventh, 2026, from offshore development, underscoring expanded American energy production. It also agreed with TotalEnergies to end offshore wind projects, redirecting capital to reliable natural gas to lower costs for families.

Emerging patterns show a U.S. focus on ramping uranium and rare earths for critical minerals security, sustaining coal for grid reliability, and shattering oil and gas records despite shipping constraints in the Gulf, as oil prices fluctuate with Iran tensions and Hormuz issues reported by Energy Now on April seventh, 2026. These moves reinforce energy dominance amid global disruptions.

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# Recent U.S. Energy and Mineral News

The United States energy sector is experiencing significant momentum across multiple fronts as of early April 2026. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, crude oil production reached a new record in 2025, growing by three percent or 350,000 barrels per day to average 13.6 million barrels per day. The Lower 48 states excluding the Gulf of America accounted for 83 percent of total U.S. crude oil production, while the remaining output came from Federal Gulf of America waters and Alaska.

Natural gas production similarly hit record levels last year. The U.S. marketed natural gas production grew by 5.3 billion cubic feet per day to reach an average of 118.5 billion cubic feet per day in 2025. Three regions drove this expansion: Appalachia, Permian, and Haynesville together accounted for 67 percent of total marketed gas production and 81 percent of growth. The Energy Information Administration also noted that modifications to Permian formations resulted in a net increase for tight oil production of 0.2 million barrels per day and shale gas production of 0.8 billion cubic feet per day compared with previous estimates.

The Trump administration has taken aggressive actions to support domestic energy production. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Secretary Chris Wright authorized an immediate 13 percent increase in exports at Venture Global's Plaquemines liquefied natural gas Terminal in Louisiana. Additionally, emergency orders were issued to keep coal plants operational in Colorado and Indiana to ensure affordable and reliable electricity access. The administration also moved to restore operations of the Santa Ynez Unit and Santa Ynez Pipeline System in California to address supply disruption risks.

In the mining sector, several projects are advancing. According to Northern Miner, First Majestic Silver unveiled plans to restart its past-producing Jerritt Canyon gold mine in Nevada by the end of 2027 to capitalize on elevated precious metal prices. Revival Gold released assays supporting its past-producing Mercur gold project in Utah as it works toward a construction decision by early 2028. United States Antimony resumed mining at its Stibnite Hill property in Montana after an almost five-month halt following milder than expected winter conditions.

Energy market conditions remain volatile. According to EnergyNow dot com, crude oil prices jumped more than 11 percent following geopolitical tensions, with Goldman Sachs raising its 2026 Brent crude average price forecast by 8 dollars to 85 dollars per barrel. Meanwhile, coal exports decreased in 2025 after four years of growth, reflecting broader shifts in the energy landscape as the nation balances fossil fuel production with emerging energy demands.

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On March 25, 2026, the United States House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, based in Washington, D.C., held a key hearing on unleashing America's mineral potential. Subcommittee Chairman Paul Gosar of Arizona stressed that national defense and economic strength hinge on reliable access to critical minerals like copper, rare earth elements, lithium, and gallium. He warned that the United States remains dangerously reliant on foreign supply chains dominated by adversaries like China, urging rapid expansion of domestic mining and processing to protect national security and counter price manipulation and geopolitical pressures. Natural Resources Committee press release highlighted how long, uncertain permitting processes have eroded America's competitive edge despite vast domestic reserves.

This hearing aligns with broader efforts to rebuild resilient supply chains. The United States Department of Energy recently announced up to five hundred million dollars in funding to expand domestic critical minerals processing, battery materials manufacturing, and recycling. Energy Secretary Chris Wright noted this targets minerals such as lithium, graphite, nickel, copper, and aluminum, addressing overreliance on hostile foreign actors, especially China-dominated hubs. The initiative supports demonstration and commercial-scale facilities in three areas: processing from raw feedstocks, materials recycling, and battery component manufacturing.

Lawmakers are pushing further. A bipartisan bill introduced by Senator Todd Young of Indiana and Representative Rob Wittman of Virginia proposes a two point five billion dollar Strategic Resilience Reserve for critical minerals. Modeled on the Federal Reserve, it aims to stabilize prices for lithium, nickel, and rare earths, countering what policymakers call Chinese market manipulation that has stalled projects like Albemarle's expansions in North Carolina and boosted Pentagon stakes in Nevada's MP Materials.

Emerging patterns show a unified push: hearings expose vulnerabilities, funding accelerates production, and stockpiles shield against volatility. These steps, amid rising demand from defense, artificial intelligence, data centers, nuclear energy, and electric vehicles, signal America's determination to secure its mineral future independently. Worldwide, Canada's March 3 announcement of one hundred sixty five million dollars for twenty two projects echoes this urgency, but United States actions lead in scale and focus on sovereignty.

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Welcome to this week's energy and mineral market update. The United States is experiencing significant developments across critical mineral policy and energy infrastructure as the nation grapples with supply chain vulnerabilities and market volatility.

On the policy front, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation in January to establish a two point five billion dollar critical minerals stockpile. According to the bill details, this Strategic Resilience Reserve would address what policymakers view as Chinese manipulation of prices for lithium, nickel, rare earths, and other essential minerals vital to electric vehicles and advanced weaponry. The reserve would operate under a seven member board, modeled on Federal Reserve governance, with members appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The board would purchase and stockpile minerals at warehouses across the country while prioritizing recycled materials. Notably, allied nations could join the reserve by contributing at least one hundred million dollars.

The White House also took action in mid January, adjusting imports of processed critical minerals and derivative products. The administration determined that processed critical minerals are essential to national security and indispensable to defense programs and critical infrastructure. The energy sector particularly relies on minerals such as cobalt, nickel, uranium, praseodymium, and terbium for battery storage, nuclear fuel, generators, and electric vehicle motors. The Secretary of Commerce found that the United States is too reliant on foreign sources and is experiencing unsustainable price volatility in critical mineral markets while domestic production capacity has weakened significantly.

On the energy markets side, recent developments reflect broader geopolitical pressures. According to energy market reports from mid March, oil prices have risen substantially due to escalating tensions between the United States and Iran over nuclear negotiations. United States crude rose from sixty seven dollars and twenty eight cents per barrel earlier in the week, while Brent crude touched its highest level since late July at over seventy two dollars per barrel.

Additionally, the energy transition is experiencing some slowdown. Reports indicate that planned coal and natural gas plant retirements have been delayed following Trump administration policies prioritizing fossil fuel expansion. Only four point six six gigawatts of coal capacity was retired in twenty twenty five, roughly half the predicted amount, partly due to Department of Energy orders to extend plant operations and meet growing electricity demand.

A House Natural Resources Subcommittee hearing on critical mineral commodity supply chains is scheduled for this week, titled Unleashing America's Mineral Potential, indicating Congress remains focused on strengthening domestic mineral capabilities and reducing foreign dependency.

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The United States is intensifying efforts to secure its energy and mineral supply chains amid rising global demand for critical materials. The Department of Energy launched a five hundred million dollar funding initiative to support demonstration and commercial scale facilities that process or recycle key minerals like lithium, graphite, nickel, copper, and aluminum for batteries and energy technologies. Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized reducing reliance on foreign suppliers, particularly hostile actors, as part of this push announced on Friday.

Enverus Energy reports volatility in energy markets, with the Permian Basin maintaining stable productivity through methodical inventory expansion and longer laterals. ProFrac noted increased calls from exploration and production companies targeting drilled but uncompleted wells amid price spikes. Repsol plans to invest between two point nine and three point four billion euros across the United States through twenty twenty eight. In Wyoming's Powder River Basin, IOG Resources Three closed its first joint venture for eighteen horizontal wells, backed by First Reserve.

Critical minerals projects are advancing rapidly. EagleOne Metals signed a binding letter of intent to acquire the Poison Springs Uranium and Rare Earths Project in Utah for fifty thousand dollars, a two hundred six point six acre site thirty five miles south of Hanksville with prior intercepts of uranium, copper, silver, cobalt, nickel, and rare earths like neodymium and praseodymium. EnCore Energy progresses construction at Upper Spring Creek in Texas pending environmental approvals and eyes Dewey Burdock in South Dakota. Faraday Copper signed a letter for BHP's San Manuel property in Arizona, targeting forty thousand meters of drilling at Copper Creek.

Controlled Thermal Resources merged in a deal valuing the Hell's Kitchen geothermal lithium project at four point seven billion dollars in California's Imperial Valley, integrating geothermal power with lithium and critical minerals extraction. The two thousand twenty six Critical Minerals Ministerial, convened by Secretary of State Rubio with fifty four countries, confirmed over thirty billion dollars in United States government support for secure chains in the prior six months, alongside uranium spot prices nearing ninety two dollars per pound driven by reactor demand and AI power needs.

Worldwide, Asia pledges thirty billion dollars in energy and mineral deals with the United States, including liquefied natural gas and critical minerals, ahead of high level visits. These developments signal a pattern of aggressive domestic investment, international partnerships, and policy backed funding to counter foreign dominance and fuel energy independence.

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In the past week, the United States has intensified efforts to secure its critical minerals supply chains amid growing global demand for energy transition materials. The US State Department reports that on March 12, following the Critical Minerals Ministerial with representatives from 54 countries, America signed 11 new bilateral frameworks and memoranda of understanding with nations including Argentina, Ecuador, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates. These agreements aim to spur development, create fair markets, and close supply gaps, building on over 30 billion dollars in recent US investments, loans, and partnerships for critical minerals projects.

USA Rare Earth, as detailed by The Street on March 9, advanced domestic control by fully acquiring the Round Top rare earth deposit in Texas, issuing 73 million dollars in stock and securing 3.1 billion dollars in funding, including 1.5 billion from private equity. The company plans commercial production by 2028, targeting 40,000 metric tons per day of rare earth and critical mineral feedstock by 2030 from its expanded 10,000-acre site, bolstering technology and defense sectors.

The US Department of Energy announced on March 15 a 500 million dollar funding initiative for domestic critical minerals and battery supply chains, focusing on processing raw feedstocks, recycling materials, and manufacturing components. IndexBox notes this third-round effort counters overseas dominance, especially in China, to support electric vehicles and grid storage, coinciding with US-Japan energy security talks.

Uranium emerges as a hotspot, with WBOC reporting analysts projecting spot prices near 92 dollars per pound due to tightening supply, reactor demand, AI power needs, and a US Department of Energy commitment of 2.7 billion dollars for domestic enrichment. EnCore Energy advances projects like Upper Spring Creek in Texas, pending environmental approvals, and Dewey Burdock in South Dakota, eyeing construction soon.

SP Angel's market view on March 11 highlights gold steady at 5,188 dollars per ounce and copper at 13,002 dollars per ton, while neodymium-praseodymium rare earth oxide dipped to 118,288 dollars per ton. Emerging patterns show policy momentum shifting beyond rare earths to processing innovations and high-risk minerals like uranium, delaying coal and gas plant retirements to meet electricity demands, as noted in Mineral Rights Podcast updates. These moves position the US for resilient, self-sufficient energy and mineral independence in 2026.

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