He also tackled Australia’s growing relationship with the US amidst trade tensions and how he sees the the countries’ partnership progressing.
Burfield warned of vulnerabilities in today’s concentrated supply chains, with critical minerals production and refining largely dominated by a few countries.
The commissioner cited the current global mining industry, referring to how production and refining has been concentrated and “extremely vulnerable” to trade disruption.
He emphasised the risk of price manipulation, export restrictions and instability in markets like lithium, where China currently handles approximately 70 percent of refining.
Slide from Burfield highlighting Australia's vast resource potential.
Image via Georgia Williams.
Australia, he argued, offers a secure, transparent and progressive regulatory landscape.
Backed by world-class workforce expertise and technologies, Australia remains attractive to international partners seeking resilient, diversified sources of supply.
“It doesn't sound like much, but in a sector that is growing at 300 percent, a 10 percent reduction in dependence can be quite significant for this reason, and many others, international allies and like minded partners are increasingly looking to Australia as a reliable and secure supplier permits that they need to grow issues in the future.”
The commissioner regarded Australia’s workforce and a deep venture, world class engineering, technology and support technology companies as essential contributors to its competitive advantage.
“In fact, you'll hear accents like mine and many that are much higher across the boardrooms of most of the world's mining and engineering companies,” he said.
According to him, Australia’s mining, engineering and technology sector contributes a quarter of a trillion dollars to its overall economy. These also employ over 1.1 million people in Australia.
Metals-wise, he said that the country plays a role in essential defense, advanced technology and energy security as the top producer of bauxite, lithium and rutile.
He added that Australia is among the top five producers of cobalt, manganese and rare earths like tasman, zircon and zinc.
A stable political system, a reliable and transparent regulatory environment, dependable contract legal environment, excellent environmental, social governance structures and supportive government policies, incentives and programs were also cited as Australia’s strengths, saying that it is among the most progressive countries in these aspects.
“The Australian government (continues) to help develop strategically important critical minerals projects by providing targeted and proportionate support de-risk projects and help overcome distortions,” Burfield said.
He mentioned Australia’s critical minerals facility of about AU$4 billion, which he said is probably debt laden.
In April, the Albanese Government made a pledge of an initial investment of AU$1.2 billion in the reserve upon re-election, including through an AU$1 billion increase in the existing critical minerals facility.
“This will take our total investment in the Facility to $5 billion, providing vital support to private sector and international partners with the upfront capital costs of new projects,” the government said.
In addition to this and other financing options, Burfield cited the AU$7 billion critical minerals production tax incentive, which was passed on February 12.
The incentive will provide a refundable tax credit on 10 percent of eligible costs associated with the production of critical minerals and rare earths, aligning with Australia’s goal of developing its critical minerals sector.
Burfield also highlighted the National Reconstruction Fund, which was launched in September 2023.
“(This aims) to drive Australia's ambitions in advanced manufacturing, and has a billion dollar facility eligible for Australian minerals projects.”
In the midst of his presentation, Burfield said that the intent to build a critical minerals reserve is Australia’s “own version of stock market,” similar to the US.
He said that in terms of a relationship with the US, Australia has already established ourselves as a trusted partner.
“This is demonstrated in several ways, particularly through the decision to consider Australia as a domestic source under Title Three of the Defensive Production Act (DPA), allowing Australian companies to be eligible for US government funding to support our manufacturing and industrial based capacities.”
In 2023, Australia was lined up as a “domestic source” under title three of the DPA, a change part of the broader Australia and US security partnership that aims to strengthen supply chains and industrial bases for both countries.
Australia currently produces 29 of the 50 minerals listed on the US critical minerals list, with the ability to supply up to 36.
Burfield said 49 projects have been identified as shovel-ready, pending private investment and off-take agreements. These projects are believed to “help fuel the growth of the US economy, its manufacturing sector and to drive new industries.”
“(Our collaboration (with the US) is built on these resilient, high quality, rural mineral supply chains and our close industry and government tasks,” he continued. “For over 100 years, (the collaboration stood side by side through war, peace and profound global change. So it goes without saying that Australia could commit a strategy which provides an enduring, long term policy framework to grow our critical middle sectors has been built to reflect our shared and mutual interests.”
Burfield assured the public that Australia and the US are working closely to strengthen supply chains to ensure that specific strategic projects get the support that they need.
Towards the end, he said that plans are in place to develop projects, including government awards, joint ventures and binding off takes. Both countries are expecting that these moves will play a crucial role in terms of supply chains for the defense and battery sectors and beyond.
“We’re really pleased to support these ambitions as a country and provide access to the resources that Australia needs to develop national prosperity and national security.”
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Australia for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
(TheNewswire)
 | |||||||||
Vancouver, BC June 24, 2025 TheNewswire - Allied Critical Metals Inc. (CSE: ACM | FSE: 0VJ0) ("Allied" or the "Company"), which is focused its 100% owned past producing Borralha and Vila Verde tungsten projects in northern Portugal, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Vítor Arezes as Vice President, Exploration.
Mr. Arezes brings over 14 years of experience in geological exploration, project development, mining operations, and project evaluation across Portugal and internationally. His distinguished career includes senior technical and leadership roles in exploration and mining companies, with a strong focus on tungsten, tin, gold and other critical minerals and precious metals. He has led multi-disciplinary teams in the advancement of historical and greenfield projects, particularly within Portugal's mineral-rich regions.
"We are proud to welcome Vítor to the Allied team at a pivotal time in our development," said CEO Roy Bonnell. "His deep technical knowledge, regional expertise, and proven track record will be invaluable as we advance our Borralha and Vila Verde tungsten projects toward production."
Mr. Arezes is a registered professional geologist as a Professional Member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (MIMMM #703197) and has collaborated with numerous governmental and academic bodies in geoscience and mineral development within Portugal and internationally. He also holds an BSc in Geology from University of Minho in Portugal.
This appointment reinforces Allied's commitment to assembling a best-in-class leadership and operations team as it aims to become a premier Western supplier of tungsten—one of the world's most strategic critical metals.
About Allied Critical Metals Inc.
Allied Critical Metals Inc. (ACM:CSE | FSE:0VJ0) is a Canadian-based mining company focused on the expansion and revitalization of its 100% owned past producing Borralha Tungsten Project and the Vila Verde Tungsten Project in northern Portugal. Tungsten has been designated a critical metal by the United States and other western countries, as they are aggressively seeking friendly sources of this unique metal. Currently, China, Russia and North Korea represent approximately 86% of the total global supply and reserves. The tungsten market is estimated to be valued at approximately USD $5 to $6 billion and it is used in a variety of industries such as defense, automotive, manufacturing, electronics, and energy.
Please visit our website at www.alliedcritical.com .
Also visit us at:
LinkedIn:
X: https://x.com/@alliedcritical/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alliedcriticalmetals/
On behalf of the Board of Directors
"Roy Bonnell"
Roy Bonnell
CEO and Director
For further information or investor relations inquiries, please contact:
Dave Burwell
Vice President, Corporate Development
Email: daveb@alliedcritical.com
Tel: 403-410-7907
Toll Free: 1-888-221-0915
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains "forward-looking statements", including with respect to the use of proceeds. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "potential for" and similar expressions have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations of the Company's management for future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation, those listed in the Company's Listing Statement and other filings made by the Company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities (which may be viewed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca ). Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed timeline and use of proceeds for exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects as described in the Company's Listing Statement, news releases, and corporate presentations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors should be considered carefully, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements and reference should also be made to the Company's Listing Statement dated April 23, 2025 and news release dated May 16, 2025, and the documents incorporated by reference therein, filed under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca for a description of additional risk factors. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.
The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release and has neither approved now disapproved the contents of this press release.
Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
News Provided by TheNewsWire via QuoteMedia
Allied Critical Minerals (CSE:ACM,FSE:0VJ0) is advancing two strategically important, past-producing tungsten projects—Borralha and Vila Verde—in northern Portugal. These brownfield assets offer a rare blend of near-term production potential and large-scale exploration upside, positioning ACM to emerge as the leading tungsten producer outside China. With 100 percent ownership of both projects and strong local support, the company is well-positioned to help secure a reliable supply of this critical metal for Western markets.
To capitalize on strong market conditions, ACM raised $4.6 million to advance a high-impact growth plan. This includes drilling at Borralha to expand its NI 43-101 resource and building a pilot plant at Vila Verde, set to begin in Q4 2025. The plant will process tailings and alluvial material, targeting ~250 tonnes of WO₃ annually and generating $4–5 million in revenue, supporting near-term cash flow with minimal dilution.
Borralha is ACM’s flagship development-stage project, located 100 km northeast of Porto. A historic producer of over 10,280 tonnes of high-grade wolframite concentrate (66 percent WO₃) until 1986, the brownfield asset is now advancing under a Mining Rights Concession and a newly updated NI 43-101 resource (effective July 31, 2024).
This Allied Critical Metals profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*
Click here to connect with Allied Critical Metals (CSE:ACM) to receive an Investor Presentation
With a strategic foothold in Portugal and a commodity focus on tungsten – a metal deemed critical by both NATO and US defense agencies – Allied Critical Minerals is advancing two past-producing projects toward near-term production. Backed by a $4.6 million financing, offtake interest from major buyers, and a leadership team with proven capital markets and operational success, ACM is well-positioned to become the largest tungsten producer outside of China.
Allied Critical Minerals (CSE:ACM,FSE:0VJ0) is advancing two highly strategic, past-producing tungsten projects – Borralha and Vila Verde – located in northern Portugal. These brownfield assets present a compelling combination of near-term production potential and district-scale exploration upside, positioning the company to become the largest tungsten producer outside of China. With 100 percent ownership of both projects and supportive local communities, ACM is well-placed to contribute to the critically needed supply of this strategic metal to Western markets.
Tungsten is essential for defense systems, electric vehicles, semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI), yet current global supply is dominated by China and Russia, accounting for about 90 percent of production. ACM’s projects are aligned with national security strategies in the US and EU, seeking secure and stable sources of tungsten supply. The company has already signed a letter of intent with Global Tungsten & Powders, a major Pennsylvania-based end-user with ties to the US military and is actively engaging with other global refineries.
To capitalize on these market dynamics, ACM closed a $4.6 million financing to fund an aggressive value creation plan. This includes an ongoing drill program at Borralha aimed at expanding its existing NI 43-101 resource, and the construction of a pilot processing facility at Vila Verde, targeted to begin in Q4 2025 and become operational by 2026. The pilot plant will process tailings and alluvial material from existing deposits, with an estimated annual output of ~250 tons tungsten trioxide (WO₃) and projected revenues of $4 million to $5 million, supporting near-term cash flow with minimal dilution.
ACM differentiates itself from competitors such as American Tungsten and Fireweed through its permitting progress, advanced technical groundwork and strong leadership. CEO Roy Bonnell brings a proven track record of successful exits and rapid value creation, having been instrumental in the success of both Founders Metals (TSXV:FDR) and Thesis Gold (TSXV:TAU) — two of the TSX Venture’s top-performing issuers in recent years.
The Borralha project is ACM’s flagship development-stage asset, located approximately 100 km northeast of Porto in northern Portugal. A brownfield project with a rich production history dating back to 1904, Borralha produced over 10,280 tons of wolframite concentrate at an average grade of 66 percent WO₃, until operations ceased in 1986. Today, the project is advancing rapidly, supported by a Mining Rights Concession License and a newly updated NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate effective July 31, 2024. The estimate defines indicated resources of 4.98 million tons (Mt) at an average grade of 0.22 percent WO₃, 762 grams per ton (g/t) copper, and 4.8 g/t silver, and inferred resources of 7.01 Mt at 0.20 percent WO₃, 642 g/t copper, and 4.4 g/t silver. The project area hosts significant polymetallic enrichment, with tin and copper frequently associated with the tungsten mineralization, adding potential for by-product credits.
The primary zone of interest, the Santa Helena Breccia (SHB), is a subvertical to sub-horizontal breccia pipe-style tungsten system. Historical and recent drilling confirms broad, continuous mineralization with highlight intercepts including 106 m at 0.21 percent WO₃, 114 m at 0.23 percent WO₃, 108 m at 0.22 percent WO₃, and a high-grade zone of 10 m at 1.75 percent WO₃.
The SHB zone accounts for over 70 percent of known mineralization, but only about half of the zone has been drill-tested to date. The current drill campaign is targeting both lateral extensions and higher-grade core zones within the breccia body.
Geologically, the deposit is hosted in metasedimentary rocks intruded by late-Variscan granites, with mineralization occurring predominantly as wolframite associated with quartz-cassiterite veins and breccia infill. Breccia pipe mining techniques – similar to open-pit quarry operations – are anticipated for early-stage exploitation.
The project is currently undergoing an environmental impact assessment under review by Portuguese authorities. The mining license includes provisions for up to 150,000 tons per annum of bulk sampling ahead of full-scale operations, which will be governed by a future feasibility study. The low-cost drill environment (~$235/meter) and excellent infrastructure – including road, power, water and proximity to a skilled workforce – make Borralha a technically robust and strategically significant asset for ACM.
Located approximately 45 km southeast of Borralha, the Vila Verde project is ACM’s pilot production and near-term cash flow opportunity. Historically, this area hosted the Vale das Gatas Mine, which was one of Portugal’s largest tungsten producers prior to its closure in 1986. The project covers a significantly larger land area than Borralha and includes multiple mineralized zones, notably Cumieira and Porqueira. A historical resource estimate from 2020 defined 7.3 Mt of mineralized material above a 0.05 percent WO₃ cutoff, including 4.0 Mt at 0.14 percent WO₃ in the Cumieira zone and 3.3 Mt at 0.10 percent WO₃ in Porqueira. While historical in nature, these figures are supported by 17 diamond drill holes totaling 2,103 metres, which revealed a 2.1 km x 1.0 km mineralized footprint at Cumieira and a 1.0 km x 500 m footprint at Porqueira.
Vila Verde Pilot Plan
Vila Verde is advancing toward the construction of a 150,000-ton-per-annum pilot plant, scheduled to begin construction in Q4 2025 and be operational in 2026. Tailings and alluvial material from the Justes deposit will be used as the initial feedstock, with an average WO₃ grade of ~0.21 percent anticipated. Plant design includes standard crushing and grinding circuits followed by gravimetric and magnetic separation to produce a high-grade wolframite concentrate. Engineering work by GMR Consultores and MinePro Solutions supports an annual output of approximately 250 tons of WO₃ under current parameters. The total estimated CAPEX for the pilot plant is CA$7.9 million, with a proposed expansion to 300,000 tpa requiring an additional CA$2.9 million, both targeted for non-dilutive funding sources.
Permitting is progressing efficiently, with the mineral license being converted from exploration to experimental mining status. This permits early-stage production while full-scale licensing is pursued. The project benefits from pre-existing quarry infrastructure, strong community support, and short timelines to cash flow. A signed LOI with Global Tungsten & Powders in Pennsylvania provides an initial offtake channel, and additional negotiations with global refiners are ongoing. Vila Verde is central to ACM’s short-term revenue plan and is designed to serve as a testbed for scalable production across its broader tungsten portfolio.
Roy Bonnell is a seasoned executive with over 30 years in capital markets, venture finance and natural resources. Bonnell holds an LLB from Western University, an MSc from the London School of Economics, and an MBA from McGill University. He brings deep leadership and financing experience and previously served as a board member for Founders Metals and Thesis Gold – two of the TSXV’s top performers.
With over 20 years of mining sector experience in Portugal, João Barros specializes in exploration management, environmental impact assessments and feasibility studies. He has held leadership roles at Ascendant Resources and Redcorp, and is a member of the Portuguese Engineers Association.
Sean O’Neill is head of securities at Boughton Law with 20+ years in corporate and securities law, including advising mining firms globally. He holds degrees in Chemical Engineering and Law, an MBA, and is a registered professional engineer (P.Eng).
Michael Galego is the CEO of Apolo Capital Advisory and CLO of LNG Energy, with extensive experience in M&A and corporate strategy. Notably, he advised on the sale of Woulfe Mining (tungsten asset) to Almonty Industries. He is a Lexpert Top 40 Under 40 awardee and member of the TSX Venture Advisory Committee.
CEO of Founders Metals, Colin Padget brings operational exploration experience across South America. He holds a Masters in Geology and a Bachelor in Business Administration.
Former Managing Director of York Harbour Metals, Andrew Lee has 15 years of global exploration experience across gold and phosphate projects in Ecuador and West Africa.
A CPA with nearly 20 years in mining finance, Sean Choi has held CFO roles at York Harbour Metals, Ecuador Gold & Copper, and Northern Sun Mining. He holds a degree from the Western University.