Can Locksley Overcome Regulatory Hurdles to Rebuild U.S. Antimony Supply?
Locksley Resources has launched an Expression of Interest process to select a leading U.S. engineering firm for the Desert Antimony Mine pilot plant design, marking a critical step toward establishing a domestic antimony supply chain aligned with federal priorities.
- Expression of Interest issued to Tier 1 U.S. engineering firms
- Integrated metallurgical optimisation supports concurrent engineering design
- Focus on U.S.-based partners with local regulatory experience
- Over $20 million cash secured for 2026 development programs
- Project aligns with U.S. government critical minerals strategy
Engineering Partner Selection Underway
Locksley Resources Limited (ASX – LKY) has formally initiated the process to select a Tier 1 U.S. engineering firm to lead the scoping engineering design for its Desert Antimony Mine pilot plant. This Expression of Interest (EOI) follows recent high-level engagements with leading U.S. engineering groups and reflects the company’s commitment to accelerating its development timeline.
The EOI process prioritises firms with proven experience operating in San Bernardino County, California, where the Desert Antimony Mine is located. This regional expertise is critical for navigating permitting pathways and regulatory engagement, ensuring the project advances efficiently within the local framework.
Integrated Approach to Metallurgy and Engineering
Alongside the engineering partner selection, Locksley is advancing metallurgical optimisation work to refine processing flowsheets and improve recovery rates. These metallurgical outcomes will directly inform the engineering design, enabling concurrent progress on both fronts. This integrated strategy aims to maintain momentum and reduce technical risks as the project moves toward a definitive scoping study.
Managing Director and CEO Kerrie Matthews highlighted the strong response from Tier 1 firms as a vote of confidence in Locksley’s disciplined development strategy and the project’s alignment with U.S. federal priorities to rebuild domestic critical mineral supply chains.
Strategic Importance and Funding
The Desert Antimony Mine, part of the broader Mojave Project in California, represents one of the highest-grade antimony occurrences in the United States. Antimony is a critical mineral with applications in defense, semiconductors, and metal alloys, yet the U.S. currently lacks domestic production. Locksley’s mine-to-market strategy aims to re-establish a fully integrated U.S. supply chain, reducing reliance on foreign sources, particularly China.
Financially, Locksley is well positioned with over $20 million in cash reserves earmarked for 2026 work programs. The company plans to issue a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) by mid-Q1 2026 and award contracts for engineering and processing scopes by the end of that quarter, aligning with upcoming exploration results.
Looking Ahead
As Locksley advances through the EOI evaluation and subsequent RFP stages, the project’s progress will be closely watched by investors and industry observers. The company’s ability to secure the right engineering partners and successfully integrate metallurgical insights will be pivotal in moving the Desert Antimony Mine toward commercial production and downstream processing readiness.
Bottom Line?
Locksley’s next moves in partner selection and metallurgical validation will be key to unlocking the U.S. antimony supply chain potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Which Tier 1 engineering firm will Locksley select to lead the scoping study?
- How will metallurgical optimisation outcomes impact the final processing design?
- What are the anticipated timelines and costs for advancing from scoping to production?
