Overview
AE Fuels Corp. said it has joined the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium, a grouping of U.S. government and industry participants. The Vancouver-based critical minerals developer described the consortium membership as a means to connect its raw-material projects with processing, technology providers, potential customers and government partners.
Projects and resources
The company is developing two principal assets. In Western Australia, AE Fuels is advancing the South Woodie Woodie manganese project and holds an NI 43-101 inferred resource of 11.3 million tonnes grading 15% manganese. Pilot-scale purification activities carried out in 2026 produced battery-grade high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate crystals within the targeted impurity specifications and reported manganese extraction rates between 95% and 99%.
Following a 3,839-station gravity survey at its Pearana and Pothole prospects in Western Australia, AE Fuels identified 44 priority drill targets that could potentially expand its manganese resource base.
In the United States, AE Fuels is advancing technical, environmental and stakeholder work at the Fluorite Ridge fluorspar district in New Mexico. The company said it is evaluating opportunities to expand its regional footprint and to develop U.S.-based processing and higher-value fluorine products from that district.
Strategic intent and near-term plan
AE Fuels outlined a two- to three-year strategy to move both assets toward development. For the manganese project, the company is progressing processing work. For Fluorite Ridge, the objective is to establish a domestic U.S. fluorspar source and to advance higher-value fluorine product options. As part of these efforts AE Fuels is seeking customers, permits, funding, processing partnerships and government support.
Chief Executive Gary Lewis said the company sees strategic value in critical minerals beyond the mine itself and that consortium membership provides an additional avenue to engage with organizations focused on addressing vulnerabilities in the U.S. defense industrial base.
Limits of membership
AE Fuels emphasized that joining the consortium does not represent a government contract, funding award or endorsement. The company also stated that consortium membership does not guarantee it will submit proposals or receive funding, contracts, collaborations or other awards.
Implications
The membership is intended to broaden AE Fuels' access to potential processing partners, customers and government stakeholders as it advances pilot processing outcomes and seeks to develop both manganese and fluorspar supply chains. The company is positioning its projects to address supply-chain concentration and import dependence for these minerals.