Crucible Metals (Tennessee)

Project Summary

The U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded Crucible Metals, LLC, a subsidiary of Korea Zinc, direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act. This funding will support an advanced smelter and critical minerals processing facility in Tennessee. This facility will produce the following critical and strategic minerals: gallium, bismuth, germanium, indium, antimony, tellurium, cadmium, palladium, copper, silver, gold, zinc, and lead as well as sulfuric acid and semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid, materials that are vital to semiconductors, AI, quantum computing, aerospace & defense, automotives, and industrials.

Economic and National Security Impact

This investment will help strengthen U.S. economic and national security by establishing a production facility in the United States; diversifying the global supply chain; and allowing semiconductor, AI, quantum computing, and other markets to source raw materials directly from the United States. Additionally, Korea Zinc has agreed to give the United States Government and U.S. customers priority access to its Korean production of 10 critical and strategic minerals starting in 2026.

Korea Zinc is a global leader in mineral production and operates the world’s largest non-ferrous smelter in Onsan, Korea. The planned facility in Clarksville, Tennessee, will be an advanced replica of the Onsan facility.