MAX Power Mining has signed an MOU with the City of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, to advance natural hydrogen commercialisation in the Regina–Moose Jaw Industrial Corridor, centred on the Lawson Natural Hydrogen system near Central Butte, about 80 km northwest of the city. Core desorption tests from nine samples in Cambrian Basal sands above the Basement Complex discovery returned helium values up to 8.7%, averaging 4.4%, indicating a potentially valuable hydrogen–helium system. The partners aim to leverage existing regional infrastructure and policy support to move the project towards commercial validation.

Water scarcity and multi‑year permitting delays—often two to four years for discharge and dewatering approvals in the western US—are increasingly stalling otherwise bankable mines, with water risk now affecting project schedules, financing and national credit profiles. Consultants such as Woodard & Curran report that “credible water stories” are becoming as critical as ore grades, pushing operators towards closed‑loop recycling and non‑traditional sources. US firms Genesis Systems and Atoco are deploying atmospheric water generation units, including Genesis’ containerised WaterCube systems producing over 1,000 gallons per day off‑grid, now trialled at mine sites.

Trump’s two-day summit in Beijing ended without a rare earths agreement, leaving China’s control of roughly 90% of global refining/processing and over 60% of mined supply unchanged. Export curbs imposed after Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs still have teeth, with shipments of yttrium, dysprosium and terbium to the US down about 50% versus pre-control levels, contributing to previous auto plant shutdowns in the US and Europe. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer reported only a gradual recovery in imports, while analysts warn allies cannot “out-mine or out-process China” quickly enough to build near-term resilience.