May 05, 2026 — TORONTO, ONTARIO — As global competition for critical minerals intensifies, the conversation is increasingly shifting toward control—not only of resources, but of the policy frameworks and government-backed mechanisms that enable their acquisition.
Against this backdrop, Pini Althaus, CEO & Chairman of Cove Capital LLC, will deliver a keynote address at CMI Summit 5: “The New Critical Minerals Economy,” taking place May 13–14, 2026, at the Historic National Club in Toronto.
Mr. Althaus’ presentation, titled “Securing Strategic Assets: The Role of U.S. Government Advocacy in Critical Minerals,” is scheduled for Day 1 (Wednesday, May 13) from 12:30–12:55 PM, and will examine how U.S. government policy, financing tools, and diplomatic alignment are shaping access to—and control over—critical mineral assets globally.
At a time when Western governments are seeking to de-risk supply chains dominated by China, advocacy—both domestic and international—is emerging as a decisive factor in determining which projects advance and which jurisdictions secure long-term supply.
Mr. Althaus commented:
“Access to critical minerals is no longer just a function of geology, it is increasingly tied to national priorities, geopolitical stability, and policy alignment. In the United States, there is growing recognition that strategic mineral development requires coordinated support across government, capital markets, and international partners. Building resilient supply chains will depend on collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to long-term strategic security.”
Mr. Althaus brings more than two decades of mining and critical minerals experience to a discussion often dominated by policy theory. As the founder and former CEO of USA Rare Earth, Inc. (NASDAQ: USAR), he helped advance the Round Top rare earth and critical minerals project in Texas, opened a rare earth and critical minerals processing facility in North America, and acquired the NdFeB permanent magnet manufacturing system formerly owned by Hitachi Metals America. His keynote will draw on direct experience at the intersection of asset acquisition, processing capacity, government engagement, and strategic supply chain development.
Jack Lifton, Co-Chair of the Critical Minerals Institute (CMI), added:
“We are now in a phase where governments are not just setting policy—they are actively shaping markets. The United States, in particular, is exploring how to leverage its financial and diplomatic tools to secure access to critical materials. Understanding how that advocacy translates into real asset control is essential for investors and operators alike.”
CMI Summit 5 will convene senior executives, policymakers, institutional investors, and technical experts to address the evolving realities of the critical minerals sector, with a focus on supply chain security, capital allocation, and geopolitical alignment in a fragmented global market.
Mr. Althaus’ inclusion in the program underscores the Summit’s emphasis on the intersection of capital, policy, and strategy—particularly as governments move from acknowledging supply chain vulnerabilities to actively competing for control of the assets that underpin them.
About Cove Capital LLC:
Cove Capital, founded in 2015, is a mining-focused firm with its head offices in New York and Melbourne, Australia. Since 2018, the company has concentrated on critical minerals—identifying, investing in, and developing projects that support U.S. and allied supply chains. Under the leadership of Pini Althaus, Cove Capital brings deep sector knowledge and hands-on development experience across exploration, mining, processing, and offtakes.
About the Critical Minerals Institute (CMI):
The Critical Minerals Institute (CMI) is a global think tank for the critical minerals economy, serving as a central hub that connects companies, capital markets, and policymakers, and delivering actionable intelligence through its monthly CMI Masterclasses, weekly Critical Minerals Report (CMR), bespoke research, and board-level advisory services across exploration finance, supply chains, and geopolitics. CMI also organizes its flagship Annual Critical Minerals Institute Summit, a global gathering of government leaders, institutional investors, and industry executives, with the upcoming CMI Summit 5 — “The New Critical Minerals Economy” — scheduled for May 13–14 in Toronto, Canada. For more information, please contact Chrissy Hessam, Director, Membership Services, at [email protected] or +1 647 289 7714, or visit CriticalMineralsInstitute.com. To register for the CMI Summit 5, click here.
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