Graphite One Inc. (TSXV: GPH) (OTCQX: GPHOF) said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy identified the company's Graphite Creek project as a potential domestic graphite source in a Fox News op-ed published August 31, 2026 [1]. Dunleavy's comments came as the United States works to strengthen critical mineral supply chains and reduce reliance on foreign sources.
The U.S. Geological Survey identifies Graphite Creek, located north of Nome, Alaska, as the largest known graphite deposit in the United States and one of the largest deposits globally. The agency's 2026 Mineral Commodity Summaries also found the United States remained 100% net import reliant for natural graphite in 2025.
#Dunleavy Op-Ed Highlights Alaska's Critical Mineral Reserves
In the op-ed, titled "China is holding critical minerals hostage. Alaska can help end the threat," Dunleavy said Alaska holds known resources of 57 of the 60 minerals the US government designates as critical [2]. He also discussed Alaska's graphite potential in a separate Fox News television interview.
Dunleavy singled out Graphite Creek in the op-ed, writing that new estimates suggest the reserve alone could provide enough graphite to meet the entire nation's needs for a century.
"Governor Dunleavy's comments underscore the strategic importance of Graphite Creek to the United States," said Anthony Huston, President and CEO of Graphite One, in a statement. "America remains entirely reliant on imports for natural graphite at a time when secure domestic supply is becoming increasingly important to advanced manufacturing, energy technologies and national security."
#USGS Trade Data Show Heavy Reliance on Chinese Graphite
USGS data show the United States imported an estimated 79,000 tons of natural graphite in 2025. Of that total, 73.4% was flake or high-purity material, 26.2% was amorphous graphite and the remainder was lump and chip graphite.
China supplied about 46% of US graphite imports between 2021 and 2024, according to USGS trade data. Canada and Mozambique each supplied about 13%, followed by Mexico at 12% and other countries at 16%.
The USGS estimated US companies consumed 71,000 tons of natural graphite in 2025, valued at $128 million. Natural graphite is used in batteries, brake linings, lubricants, powdered metals, refractory applications and steelmaking, according to the agency.
China accounted for roughly 74.9% of global natural graphite production in 2025, according to GlobalData figures published by Mining Technology. The figures illustrate the scale of current US import dependence on foreign graphite supply.
A sharper way to see the markets in just 5 minutes.
Same news, different lens. We cut through the noise and hand you the overlooked ideas and the deeper read the crowd misses. Join 38,000+ investors seeing the markets differently.
#Graphite Creek Holds FAST-41 Permitting Status Since 2025
Dunleavy previously nominated Graphite Creek as a federal High-Priority Infrastructure Project. In June 2025, the project was accepted as a covered project under the federal FAST-41 permitting process, making it the first Alaska mining project listed on the FAST-41 Permitting Dashboard, according to Graphite One.
Graphite One describes Graphite Creek as the upstream anchor of a broader strategy that also includes advanced graphite materials manufacturing in Ohio. The company said the integrated approach is intended to span resource development, materials manufacturing and potential recycling.
Graphite One said the strategy remains subject to project financing. The company continues to develop the Graphite Creek project toward its goal of becoming a domestic producer of graphite anode materials and has not begun commercial production.
"If America is serious about reducing its dependence on foreign graphite, domestic resources must be developed at scale," Huston said in the statement. "That is what Graphite One is being built to do." The company said its strategy remains dependent on securing project financing and advancing permitting milestones, including under the FAST-41 process.