On December 15, 2025 (local time), Korea Zinc announced a cooperation agreement with the U.S. government to jointly invest US$6.6 billion (with a total investment of US$7.4 billion) to construct a key mineral smelter in Clarksville, Tennessee, USA. The project plans to commence site preparation and foundational works in 2026, with a phased commercial operation expected to begin in 2029. The smelter will process approximately 1.1 million tons of raw materials annually, producing 540,000 tons of finished products per year, including base metals such as zinc, lead, and copper, precious metals like gold and silver, as well as key strategic minerals such as antimony and germanium.
