The Trump administration is considering another investment in critical minerals: Alaska’s contentious Ambler mining road.
“The discussions are ongoing, but there’s a sense of urgency around this,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told reporters during a stop March 12 at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage. “The U.S. is actively considering whether to participate in financing or maybe even be one of the equity partners in that road itself.”
Standing next to Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R), Burgum said investing in the 211-mile gravel road would make sense given it would generate a “financial return” and touted the state’s proximity to Japan, a critical U.S. ally.
His pitch is part of the administration’s broader push to tout U.S. energy resources as an answer to foreign aggression, from China’s dominance over mineral supply chains to Iran’s curtailment of shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Dunleavy echoed the secretary’s comments and noted his state is the only one operating under an executive order to unleash its energy. A coalition of officials from across Interior will return to Alaska in May, Burgum said.
