Nova Minerals Advances Alaska Antimony Project Aligned with US Defense Supply Chain Executive Order

Executive Order Strengthens US Commitment to Domestic Critical Minerals Production

On 20 July 2026, US President Donald J. Trump signed the Executive Order titled "Securing America's Defense Supply Chains and Ensuring Domestic Acquisition of Critical Materials." Nova Minerals expressed strong support for this policy milestone, viewing it as significant validation of its strategic approach to building US domestic critical minerals capacity. The Executive Order marks a major shift in US policy by addressing the country’s heavy reliance on imports for critical minerals such as antimony, essential for defense and economic resilience.

The Order mandates that military equipment and the critical materials needed for its manufacture, maintenance, and sustainability be sourced from the United States or trusted allied nations. It establishes a formal government commitment to developing resilient domestic and allied critical mineral supply chains for defense. Additionally, it requires end-to-end supply chain traceability, including verification of raw material origins and evaluation of foreign ownership and supply risks. The Order also restricts materials sourced from entities linked to designated foreign adversaries, creating structural demand for secure, compliant critical mineral suppliers within the US and allied countries.

Nova Minerals Positioned as a First-Mover in US Antimony Supply Chain Development

Nova Minerals has strategically positioned itself as a pioneer in developing a secure, fully integrated US domestic critical minerals supply chain aligned with the Executive Order’s objectives. The company is advancing a modern, vertically integrated antimony supply chain covering mining and refining operations in Alaska. This end-to-end integration—from raw material extraction to downstream processing—represents the type of infrastructure defense contractors will require to meet the new sourcing standards.

Government backing reinforces this strategy. In October 2025, Nova Minerals was awarded a US$43.4 million Defense Production Act Title III grant by the U.S. Department of War to support development of an antimony mine at its Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project and a downstream refinery at Port MacKenzie, both in Alaska. This award signals direct US government endorsement of Nova Minerals’ antimony supply chain strategy and provides substantial capital for project advancement. The recent Executive Order further validates the company’s direction and may accelerate demand for its antimony products as defense contractors adapt to new sourcing requirements.

Port MacKenzie Pilot Plant Engineering Finalized; Construction to Begin Shortly

Engineering and design for the Port MacKenzie pilot plant facility have been completed, marking a key operational milestone. The plant is designed as a scalable processing hub capable of treating concentrate from Nova Minerals’ Estelle project as well as potential third-party domestic and allied feedstocks. This scalable design positions Port MacKenzie as a strategic US processing and toll-treatment center serving a broad range of domestic and allied suppliers.

Procurement of process plant equipment is underway, with key components delivered or en route. Construction is expected to commence in the coming months. Once operational, the facility will provide a strategic US processing and toll-treatment capability, granting defense contractors direct access to compliant military-grade antimony products. This development supports US objectives to build a secure and resilient domestic and allied supply chain for critical defense materials. First antimony production from the pilot plant is targeted for 2027, representing a significant milestone for investors to track.

Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project Overview and Location

Nova Minerals is advancing the Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project in Alaska, a jurisdiction classified by the company as tier-one for mining. The Estelle project contains two defined multi-million-ounce gold resources and over 20 prospects along a 35-kilometre mineralized trend within the prolific Tintina Gold Belt. This belt hosts more than 220 million ounces of gold and includes major operations such as Kinross Gold Corporation’s Fort Knox Gold Mine. The project’s location within this established mining region offers favorable geological and jurisdictional conditions for resource development.

The Estelle project’s dual focus on gold exploration and critical minerals development reflects Nova Minerals’ strategy to advance one of the world’s largest undeveloped gold deposits while simultaneously securing US domestic supply of antimony. This integrated approach leverages shared mining infrastructure and expertise across commodities with distinct market drivers. While specific production forecasts or reserves beyond multi-million-ounce gold resources were not disclosed, the company emphasized the scale and significance of the mineralized trend within a renowned gold province.

Defense Production Act Title III Funding Supports Project Development

The US$43.4 million Defense Production Act Title III award from the U.S. Department of War, announced in October 2025, is a critical funding source for Nova Minerals’ antimony supply chain development. This grant specifically supports the Estelle antimony mine and the Port MacKenzie refinery. The Title III program is a federal initiative aimed at strengthening domestic industrial capacity in sectors vital to national defense, providing grants (not loans) to qualifying projects that enhance defense supply chain resilience.

The full funding for both mining and refining infrastructure demonstrates strong US government confidence in Nova Minerals’ project and its strategic importance to defense objectives. This funding model differs from traditional financing by directly aligning the company’s development timeline with US defense policy goals and removing significant capital risk.

Antimony’s Critical Role in US Defense and Economic Security

Antimony is recognized as a critical mineral essential to US economic resilience and defense capabilities. The US remains heavily dependent on imports for many critical minerals, including antimony, posing strategic vulnerabilities. Antimony is widely used in military applications such as lead-acid batteries, flame retardants, and alloys in defense systems and equipment. The current import reliance highlights structural weaknesses in US domestic critical minerals supply chains that the Executive Order aims to resolve.

Nova Minerals’ integrated approach to antimony production—from mining at Estelle to refining at Port MacKenzie—directly addresses this domestic supply gap. By eliminating import dependence and mitigating foreign ownership and geopolitical risks, the company aligns with the Executive Order’s emphasis on raw material origin verification and foreign ownership risk assessment. This makes domestic antimony production especially attractive to defense contractors seeking compliant, secure supply chains.

Compliance and Traceability Requirements for Defense Contractors

The Executive Order imposes strict requirements for end-to-end supply chain traceability and verification of raw material origins for defense-related materials and equipment. Defense contractors must assess foreign ownership and supply risks and avoid materials sourced from entities linked to designated foreign adversaries. This creates a compliance imperative to qualify alternative suppliers with fully domestic or trusted-allied sourcing and transparent ownership.

Nova Minerals’ fully domestic antimony supply chain in Alaska, supported by US government funding and oversight, is structurally designed to meet these emerging compliance standards. The company’s focus on producing military-grade antimony through a transparent, documented supply chain from mining to refining positions it to capture demand from defense contractors seeking compliant suppliers. The Port MacKenzie facility aims to provide direct access to compliant military-grade antimony products, targeting defense procurement channels and satisfying new traceability and verification requirements.

CEO Remarks on Strategic Alignment and Project Timeline

Christopher Gerteisen, CEO and Executive Director of Nova Minerals, highlighted the alignment between the Executive Order and the company’s strategic vision. He stated that the Order “reflects the direction of U.S. policy on critical minerals sourcing that has informed our work at the Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project and our planned processing infrastructure at Port MacKenzie.” This confirms that Nova Minerals’ development strategy anticipated this policy direction and views the Executive Order as validation rather than a directive requiring change.

Mr. Gerteisen emphasized the company’s dedication to “developing responsible, world-class mining and refining operations that contribute to U.S. resource security and national defense priorities.” He added, “With the support of the U.S. Department of War, we remain focused on delivering a U.S. domestic antimony supply chain, targeting production in 2027.” This underscores the company’s commitment to the 2027 production goal and the enabling role of government support. The CEO’s comments convey confidence that Nova Minerals’ current plans position it well to capitalize on emerging opportunities under the new policy framework.

Upcoming Milestones and Investor Focus Areas

The announcement outlines several near-term milestones for investors to monitor. Construction of the Port MacKenzie pilot plant is expected to start soon following the completion of engineering and design, with key equipment already delivered or en route. This marks a critical transition from planning to active development. The targeted first antimony production from the pilot plant is 2027, providing a concrete operational milestone about a year from the announcement.

Additional investor resources, including interactive Vrify 3D animations, presentations, and videos on the company’s website, offer further insight into the Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project. As development progresses, investors should watch for updates on equipment deliveries, construction progress, regulatory approvals, and any revisions to the production timeline. Furthermore, developments in defense contractor qualification and initial procurement interest for antimony products will serve as key indicators of demand for Nova Minerals’ future output.