South32 Receives Fast‑Track US Approval for Arizona Zinc‑Manganese Mine
South32 Ltd (ASX:S32) is set to receive approval from the U.S. Forest Service for its $2 billion zinc and manganese mining project in Arizona, with the record of decision expected on Tuesday, according to a Forest Service statement viewed by Bloomberg. The approval follows a fast‑track permitting decision granted by the Trump administration, making the project the first mining venture to receive expedited treatment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture after the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council designated it for swift review.
The critical‑minerals project, situated in the Patagonia Mountains approximately 80 kilometres southeast of Tucson and near the Mexico border, contains one of the world’s largest undeveloped zinc deposits along with other minerals essential for steel production and large‑capacity batteries, as noted by the Agriculture Department. South32 has indicated that the mine is scheduled to reach full production by 2029.
The fast‑track approval aligns with President Donald Trump’s second‑term objective of strengthening U.S. supply chains and reducing dependence on China for critical minerals required in consumer‑goods manufacturing and advanced energy technologies. Market reaction showed the ASX index up 0.84% while South32 shares fell 0.60% following the news.