Islamabad, September 8–9, 2025 – Pakistan has signed a pivotal $500 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Missouri-based U.S. Strategic Metals (USSM), aiming to advance the development and processing of critical minerals vital for modern technologies and clean-energy sectors.
The agreement, inked between USSM and Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization (FWO) at the Prime Minister’s House, outlines plans to establish a poly-metallic refinery in Pakistan. USSM, a specialist in recycling lithium-ion batteries and mining cobalt, nickel, and copper, will collaborate with FWO to kickstart exports of critical minerals such as antimony, copper, gold, tungsten, and rare earth elements (REEs) immediately.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior officials, including the Army Chief and federal ministers, welcomed the US delegation during the signing, highlighting Pakistan’s vast untapped mineral reserves. The deal is not only expected to bolster foreign direct investment but also usher in technology transfer, job creation, and sustainable economic growth.
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker lauded the move as a symbol of deepening U.S.–Pakistan bilateral ties, stressing the importance of critical minerals for American security and prosperity a priority for the Trump administration.
The MoU also includes a second agreement signed between Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation (NLC) and Portuguese engineering firm Mota-Engil Group, focusing on logistical cooperation and infrastructure development tied to the mining sector.
This landmark partnership follows the August announcement by the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding intensified economic collaboration in critical minerals and hydrocarbons, signaling a broader strategic shift in the U.S and Pakistan relation.
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