US$150B Drone Boom Fuels Critical Minerals Race | Michael Rowley

Michael Rowley, President and CEO of Stillwater Critical Minerals, joins Kitco Mining’s Paul Harris to discuss how US$150 billion in pledged drone and counter-drone spending is sharpening the race for critical minerals, domestic supply chains and U.S.-based mining projects. Rowley says geopolitics are changing the market for metals used in drones, robotics, defense systems and advanced manufacturing. “Price is not the only factor anymore,” he said, pointing to rising U.S. government support through funding, permitting help and Defense Production Act tools. Stillwater West sits in Montana’s producing Stillwater district and hosts 10 U.S.-listed critical commodities, including nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum, palladium, rhodium and chromium. Rowley also outlines Stillwater West’s updated resource, which now totals 805 million tonnes grading 0.34% total nickel equivalent and includes the project’s first indicated resource. He says scale is the key takeaway, but the company is shifting toward infill drilling, higher-confidence resources and a PEA within 12 to 18 months. Rowley also discusses chromium upside, rhodium’s value, Sibanye’s nearby infrastructure, Glencore’s role, hydrometallurgy and upcoming drill results.