Alaska’s graphite reserves could cut U.S. reliance on China, says Governor Dunleavy
Governor Mike Dunleavy argues that Alaska’s abundant graphite deposits can reduce America’s dependence on China for critical minerals.
In a recent statement, Governor Mike Dunleavy emphasized Alaska’s role in securing the United States’ supply of critical minerals, noting the state holds 57 of the 60 most essential elements. He pointed to the Graphite Creek Project, whose estimated reserves could meet national demand for a hundred years, as a strategic asset for both the economy and defense. Dunleavy condemned the Biden administration’s $150 million loan to a graphite plant in Mozambique that later closed, arguing the move shifted production to nations with weaker environmental and labor standards and heightened reliance on unstable regimes.
He warned that China’s use of mineral access as economic leverage threatens U.S. trade policy. Citing a Trump-issued executive order, Dunleavy called for rapid development of Alaska’s resources to generate high-paying jobs and ensure uninterrupted access for American innovators.
