Critical Materials Market Dynamics RFI
Manufacturing Deployment Office
August 21, 2024
minute read time
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) released a Request for Information (RFI) on April 10, 2024, to better understand market dynamics and price volatility in critical minerals materials processing, refining, and recycling and how the federal government can play a role in supporting market stability and price transparency. MESC is seeking input from critical material developers, investors, and other stakeholders on current market dynamics and potential sources of non-competitive practices that may be leading to price volatility and other challenging operating conditions. Responses will be used to support DOE critical material investment strategy and to inform potential program development to address market challenges and strengthen the domestic critical materials supply chain.
Critical materials are a crucial component to securing a resilient energy supply chain. Through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act funding, MESC is making strategic investments across the critical material supply chain. However, recent price volatility and concerns about non-competitive practices are threatening the domestic critical material industry. MESC is committed to securing the energy supply chains needed to support a clean and stable energy transition, which will be fueled by critical materials.
MESC is sharing the initial insights from its Critical Materials Market Dynamics Request for Information (RFI), which sought information on market dynamics and price volatility in critical minerals materials processing, refining, and recycling, as well as perspectives on actions the federal government could take to support market stability and price transparency. The preliminary results from the RFI identified a range of concerns regarding market dynamics, steps that the federal government could potentially take to address those concerns, and suggested investment opportunities to further strengthen critical clean energy supply chains. Read the preliminary results.
This RFI will help inform the development of the U.S. Department of Energy and its Office of Manufacturing Energy Supply Chain’s strategy towards securing critical materials for the energy sector industrial base.
Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically as attachments to MESCanalysis@hq.doe.gov no later than 5:00 pm (ET) on 05/20/24.
Learn more about MESC’s mission to catalyze investments in America’s energy future and support of the re-shoring, skilling, and scaling of U.S. manufacturing across energy supply chains.