TORONTO, ONTARIO – January 5, 2026 – The Critical Minerals Institute (CMI) today announced it will host a live virtual Tungsten Masterclass titled “Tungsten in the New Critical Minerals Economy — A Metal Vital to National Security,” on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST.
The one-hour Masterclass will examine tungsten’s expanding strategic importance within the global critical minerals economy, with a focus on market fundamentals, supply-chain resilience, capital allocation, and the growing recognition of tungsten as a material vital to national security.
Featured Speakers
The Masterclass will feature:
- Lewis Black, President & CEO of Almonty Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: ALM | TSX: AII | ASX: AII), a leading tungsten executive with a proven track record in asset development, capital markets execution, and long-term value creation.
- Christopher Ecclestone, Founder & Principal of Hallgarten + Company (U.K.), a widely followed mining strategist whose independent research and commentary on critical minerals influence global capital markets.
The session will be moderated by Tracy Hughes, Executive Director of the Critical Minerals Institute and CEO of InvestorNews Inc.
Tungsten: A Strategic Metal
Tungsten is designated as a critical mineral due to its unique physical properties, including the highest melting point of any element and exceptional strength at elevated temperatures. These attributes make tungsten indispensable to advanced manufacturing, aerospace, energy systems, and defense applications.
“Tungsten is vital for defense and a 21st century economy. There is no substitute for tungsten in most applications, yet it was long taken for granted as just an ordinary commodity until China imposed very stringent export controls in early 2025,” said Lewis Black, President & CEO of Almonty Industries Inc., referring to the metal’s role in national defense and industrial resilience. “In the long run, we will realize that China did us a favor by forcing us to get serious about securing our tungsten supply.”
Global tungsten supply remains highly concentrated, intensifying focus on supply security, long-term planning, and capital discipline. As governments and industries reassess strategic vulnerabilities, tungsten has emerged as a cornerstone material in the evolving critical minerals landscape.
According to Christopher Ecclestone, export controls and supply constraints surrounding critical minerals can act as powerful geopolitical levers, capable of reshaping supply chains and investment strategies with little notice.
He adds: “Ultimately, the Chinese will regret sending out their wake-up call of export restraints as it made the West wake up from decades of slumber.”
The CMI Tungsten Masterclass will explore these dynamics, providing attendees with actionable intelligence on how tungsten markets, policies, and geopolitical considerations may impact investors, policymakers, and industrial participants.
Event Details
Title: CMI Masterclass – Tungsten in the New Critical Minerals Economy, Vital to National Security
Date & Time: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 · 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST
Format: Live virtual event (recording available to registrants)
Registration: Complimentary for CMI members · CAD $25 for non-members
Registration link: Click here
About Almonty Industries Inc.
Almonty Industries Inc. is a global tungsten producer focused on the mining, processing, and supply of tungsten for industrial, technology, and defense markets. The company operates and develops a portfolio of tungsten assets in Europe and Asia, including producing operations in Spain and Portugal and the Sangdong tungsten project in South Korea. Almonty’s strategy is centered on building long-life, high-quality tungsten assets capable of supplying global markets with reliable and responsibly sourced material.
About the Critical Minerals Institute (CMI)
The Critical Minerals Institute (CMI) is a global brain trust for the critical minerals economy, serving as a hub that connects companies, capital markets, and policymakers. Through CMI Masterclasses, the weekly Critical Minerals Report (CMR), bespoke research, and board-level advisory services, CMI delivers actionable intelligence spanning exploration finance, supply chains, and geopolitics.
CMI also convenes the flagship Annual Critical Minerals Institute Summit, a global gathering of government leaders, institutional investors, and industry executives. The next event, CMI Summit V, themed “The New Critical Minerals Economy,” will take place May 13–14, 2026, in Toronto, Canada.
For more information, visit CriticalMineralsInstitute.com or contact CMI Executive Director Tracy Hughes at +1 647-289-7714 or [email protected].
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