South32 opened its gates to the public this week, offering a first-hand look at progress on its Hermosa Mine project in the Patagonia Mountains, a site the company says could play a key role in bolstering Americas energy security and supply chain independence.

Construction is about 40 percent complete, with full completion expected by 2027. Once operational, the mine will focus on producing zinc and manganese, two minerals vital for everything from galvanizing steel to powering electric vehicle batteries.

Hermosa Mine President Pat Risner says the project addresses a national need.

All of the battery-grade manganese at the moment comes from China, and we only mine about five to six percent of the zinc in the world, Risner said.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, both minerals

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