Stibnite gold project in Idaho named a priority by White House

Perpetua Resources  (Nasdaq: PPTA) (TSX: PPTA) announced Tuesday that its antimony and gold Stibnite project in Idaho has been selected as a Transparency Project in response to President Trump’s recent Executive Order aimed at strengthening American mineral production and reducing US reliance on foreign nations for critical mineral supplies.

As one of 10 initial US projects selected by the newly formed National Energy Dominance Council for placement on the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council dashboard, the Stibnite Gold project will have access to increased inter-agency transparency, coordination, and oversight.

The project, with its recently secured Record of Decision from the U.S. Forest Service in January, is uniquely positioned to supply the critical mineral antimony, which is essential to national security and energy technology, the company said. 

Antimony, a metal used to make solar panels, flame retardants and weapons, is imported into the US as there is currently no domestic production. China accounted for 60% of globally mined antimony in 2024, according to data from the US Geological Survey.

Last year, China banned exports of the metal to the US.

Perpetua said in March that it plans to submit a formal loan application to the US Export-Import Bank to advance the project after it received a letter of interest, which was non-binding, from EXIM for a loan worth up to $1.8 billion. If the loan is approved, the Stibnite project would be one of Washington’s largest investments ever in a mine. The final mining permit for the project was issued by the Biden administration.

“Being recognized as a Transparency Project by the White House underscores the immense strategic value of the Stibnite Gold project,” said Perpetua CEO Jon Cherry said in a news release. “This selection…validates the urgency and importance of our project for America’s economic and national security. We stand ready to restore the site and bolster American mineral independence.”

Perpetua Resources entered into the formal permitting process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in 2016. The USFS issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement in 2020, a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement in 2022, a Final Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Record of Decision in September 2024, and a Final Record of Decision in January 2025.

The final federal decision, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Clean Water Act 404 permit, is on track for a decision in Q2 2025, Perpetua said.