ADQ Among Investors in Orion Critical Minerals Fund

The US-headquartered Orion Resource Partners (Orion), a leading global investment firm specializing in metals and materials, on Thursday announced the formation of the Orion Critical Mineral Consortium (Orion CMC).

Orion CMC is a new, mission-driven consortium designed to support the United States and its allied and partner nations to develop secure, responsible, and resilient supply chains for the critical minerals that underpin future economic growth and security. 

Led by Orion, and in partnership with the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the Consortium intends to bring together some of the world’s leading metals and mining investors and operators, creating a multi-billion platform for critical minerals investments. 

The DFC has made an initial capital commitment, which has been matched by both funds managed by Orion and ADQ, an active Abu Dhabi-based sovereign wealth fund, on the focused on critical infrastructure and global supply chains, bringing the current size of the consortium to $1.8 billion and well on its way to its $5 billion target.

Founded in 2019, DFC is the international investment arm of the US government, mobilising private capital to promote economic growth and advance US foreign policy.

Bridging Funding Gap

Founder and CEO of Orion Resource Partners Oskar Lewnowski said that Orion CMC represents a significant step forward in bridging the substantial funding gap needed to accelerate investment in the critical minerals supply chain, while at the same time boosting US economic growth.

He also said that the Consortium brings together some of the best operators in the industry with the expertise needed to build a diversified portfolio of critical minerals assets across multiple jurisdictions.

Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Orion CMC Frank Fannon said that the US has understood that it must develop alternative critical minerals supply chains for more than a decade.

However, America has lacked a private sector champion that understands niche metals and commodities, that has emerging markets experience, and a successful track record of building and operating complex mining operations. Orion CMC is well-positioned to be that champion, he said.

DFC CEO Ben Black said that securing critical minerals is a paramount matter of US strategic interest and economic prosperity.

CMC was created to establish a robust pipeline of secure critical mineral investments vital to advancing American economic prosperity. I’m proud of the incredible work done by DFC and its partners to secure these vital resources, which will safeguard America’s leadership in advanced technologies, he added.