North America-focused lithium developer Bradda Head Lithium’s subsidiary Zenolith has been accepted as a member of the Defence Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC).

The consortium is a US initiative dedicated to strengthening national security through innovation, industrial collaboration and resilient domestic supply chains.

The membership of Bradda’s subsidiary in the consortium enhances the group’s positioning within the US critical minerals and battery material supply chain amid growing federal support for domestic mineral production.

Zenolith will have the opportunity to contribute technical expertise, participate in collaborative research and development initiatives, and engage with organisations shaping US critical minerals policy and industrial strategy.

The inclusion of Zenolith in the consortium also presents opportunities for collaboration with industry leaders, technology developers, research institutions and government stakeholders, Bradda says.

Moreover, Zenolith’s membership to DIBC builds on Bradda’s recent strategic initiatives which include a joint venture with Rio Tinto subsidiary Kennecott Exploration Company and its memorandum of understanding with battery technology company Tyfast.

The inclusion, overall, reinforces the strategic value of Bradda’s US lithium portfolio as demand for domestically-sourced battery materials accelerates across energy storage, electrification and defence sectors.

“With our expanding US asset base, Bradda is well positioned to contribute to America’s long-term critical mineral objectives. We look forward to working with fellow DIBC members to support the development of a secure and resilient domestic supply chain,” says Bradda chairperson Ian Stalker.

While Bradda’s head office is located in the Isle of Man and it has a listing on Aim, the company’s principal assets are located in Arizona (Whistlejacket, Basin East, Basin West and San Domingo), while it has other prospective pegmatite and brine assets in Nevada, Texas and Pennsylvania, which Zenolith owns, manages and operates.