The Trump administration is taking a $150 million equity stake in ATALCO to establish the United States' only large-scale producer of gallium, a critical mineral for satellite systems and military radar. The Pentagon's investment, part of a strategic partnership with Pinnacle Asset Management, will combine with $300 million from Pinnacle to fund the project. ATALCO, a bauxite-to-alumina converter operating near New Orleans since the 1950s, will use the capital to revitalize its Gramercy, Louisiana site.

The company plans to eventually produce over 1 million metric tons of alumina and up to 50 metric tons of gallium annually. This move addresses growing national security concerns over supply chain vulnerabilities. China currently dominates global gallium processing, making domestic production a strategic imperative for the U.S. military.

ATALCO stated the partnership is essential for reducing reliance on foreign nations for critical minerals, with the facility expected to meet total American demand.