ATLAS RESOURCES
A Joint Venture Between Atlas Strategic Assets Inc. and BGN INT US LLC
OUR MISSION
Atlas Resources exists to secure America's critical mineral supply chains. We identify, develop, and deliver strategically essential resources through trusted allied partnerships — at a time when adversarial nations control the materials that underpin our economy, our defense, and our technological future.
Our mandate: ensure the United States achieves and sustains materials independence.
STRENGTH • SOVEREIGNTY • SECURITY
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Joe Yorio
Executive Chairman
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Richard Jones
CEO
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Wael Amer
Group COO
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Glenn Baldwin
Head of Mining
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Claire Blanchelande
Head of Metals Trading
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Ty Ludbrook
Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer
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ATLAS STRATEGIC ASSETS
U.S. Veteran-Led Strategic Advisory & Investment Firm
Veteran Leadership
Founded by former military and intelligence operators — 75th Ranger Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, and Special Forces. Senior team includes the former CEO of Blackwater/Xe Services and C-suite executives from GE, CBS, Viacom, and Westinghouse. Four decades of demonstrated execution across defense, logistics, and strategic operations.
Government Access
Established relationships across DoD, DFC, State Department, and Commerce. Senior team engages directly with U.S. and allied policymakers on critical mineral strategy. Track record of advising federal agencies, allied governments, and Fortune 500 clients on critical infrastructure and supply chain risk mitigation.
National Security Focus
Positioned to address the most urgent gap in U.S. resource security. China controls over 80% of global rare earth and graphite refining; South Africa and Russia dominate Platinum Group Metals. Atlas Assets targets stranded and contested mineral assets, structures de-risking, and directs output toward U.S. national security priorities.
BGN INT US
Global Mining & Metals Company Leveraging Its Global Marketing Reach
Global Asset Pipeline
Proven origination and development of high-value mineral assets across Africa, the Americas, and the Indo-Pacific — the three regions most critical to U.S. supply chain diversification. BGN INT US operates as the operational, commercial and regulatory bridge between BGN's international pipeline and U.S. government, defense, and industrial counterparts.
Commodities Expertise
Senior leadership drawn from Trafigura, Litasco/Lukoil, Shell, and Noble Group — bringing decades of physical trading, metals market intelligence, and supply chain structuring. BGN's Global Head of Metals launched Trafigura's Lithium trading division, positioning the firm at the forefront of energy transition metals.
Operator Relationships
On-the-ground expertise, operator networks, and project origination capability underpinning the critical minerals pipeline across contested and emerging geographies. Structured approach to joint ventures and strategic alliances — deploying capital, technical expertise, and operational support alongside host governments and local partners.
THE CRITICAL MINERALS IMPERATIVE
Why Critical Minerals Matter for National Security
60
minerals on the USGS Critical Minerals List (2025)
80%
of rare earths used by the U.S. were imported in 2024
$10B
EXIM Project Vault loan for strategic mineral reserves
54
nations at the 2026 Critical Minerals Ministerial
Sources: USGS Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals (Nov 2025); USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025; State Dept. 2026 Critical Minerals Ministerial; EXIM Project Vault (Feb 2, 2026)
STRATEGIC CRITICAL MINERALS
Top 20 U.S. Policy-Priority Minerals — USGS 2025 Highest-Risk Assessment
Li
LithiumBatteries
Co
CobaltBatteries
Ni
NickelBatteries
Mn
ManganeseBatteries
C
GraphiteBatteries
Nd
NeodymiumRare Earth
Dy
DysprosiumRare Earth
Sm
SamariumRare Earth
Tb
TerbiumRare Earth
Pr
PraseodymiumRare Earth
Ga
GalliumSemicon
Ge
GermaniumSemicon
Sb
AntimonyDefense
W
TungstenDefense
U
UraniumDefense
Cu
CopperIndustrial
Ti
TitaniumIndustrial
Cr
ChromiumIndustrial
Pt
PlatinumDefense
Nb
NiobiumIndustrial
Battery & Energy Storage
Rare Earth Elements
Semiconductors
Defense & Strategic
Industrial & Steel
Source: USGS Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals — Highest-risk minerals by probability-weighted GDP impact
U.S. EXECUTIVE ORDERS & POLICY FRAMEWORK
Jan 20, 2025
E.O. 14154 — Unleashing American Energy
Declared a national energy emergency and directed immediate review of all agency actions burdening domestic energy and critical mineral development.
Mar 20, 2025
E.O. 14241 — Increase American Mineral Production
Invoked the Defense Production Act for critical minerals. Delegated DPA Section 303 authority to DoD and DFC. Mandated expedited permitting for priority mining projects within 10 days.
Apr 15, 2025
E.O. 14272 — Section 232 on Processed Critical Minerals
Ordered Section 232 national security investigation into imports of processed critical minerals and derivative products to assess supply chain vulnerabilities.
Feb 2, 2026
Project Vault — EXIM Strategic Mineral Reserve
EXIM approved an up to $10 billion Direct Loan — the largest in its 92-year history — to establish a domestic strategic reserve for critical minerals. Nearly $2 billion in private capital complements the federal commitment.
CRITICAL MINERALS LEGISLATIVE LANDSCAPE
119th Congress (2025–2026) — Key Legislation
S. 3659
SECURE Minerals Act of 2026
Establishes a Strategic Resilience Reserve Corporation to bolster supply chains via financial contracts, stockpiling, and market analysis. Bipartisan.
S. 2550
Critical Minerals Partnership Act of 2025
Authorizes $50M for State Dept. to collaborate with allies on secure supply chains and reduce reliance on China, Russia, and Iran.
H.R. 7037
DOMINANCE Act
Authorizes the Minerals Security Partnership (now FORGE), creates an Assistant Secretary for Critical Minerals, and establishes a Mining Fellowship Program.
S. 789
Critical Minerals Security Act of 2025
Requires Interior to report on global critical mineral resources and develop a strategy with allies for advanced mining, refining, and recycling technologies.
S. 2839
Restoring American Mineral Security Act
Creates a Critical Minerals Alliance with trusted trading partners, increases tariffs on minerals from adversarial nations, and establishes a domestic investment trust fund.
FORGE & INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
2026 Critical Minerals Ministerial
In February 2026, Secretary of State Rubio hosted representatives of 54 countries at the Critical Minerals Ministerial, alongside VP Vance, Treasury Secretary Bessent, Interior Secretary Burgum, and Energy Secretary Wright.
FORGE (successor to the Minerals Security Partnership) was announced as the new multilateral framework for policy and project-level collaboration on diversified, resilient, and secure critical mineral supply chains.
Pax Silica — a private-sector initiative — will drive investments in mining, refining, end-use applications, and recycling across trusted partner nations.
Key Federal Funding & Tools
Defense Production Act (DPA)
Title III authorities for DoD & DFC to fund domestic mining via loans, guarantees, and supply contracts
DFC Mineral Production Fund
Dedicated fund leveraging DoD investment authorities and Office of Strategic Capital
EXIM Make More in America
Supply Chain Resiliency Initiative financing tools for mineral production
DOE Loan Programs Office
$1B+ in funding for processing, battery manufacturing, rare earth supply chains
Industrial Base Fund (IBF)
$5B to support critical minerals supply chains; DoD equity authority in mining companies
ATLAS RESOURCES — POLICY ALIGNMENT
How Atlas Resources Directly Supports the U.S. Critical Minerals Strategy
| U.S. Policy Objective | Atlas Resources Capability |
|---|---|
| Reduce dependence on adversarial supply chains (China, Russia, Iran) | Atlas identifies and secures stranded and contested mineral assets in allied nations, de-risks them, and aligns output with U.S. priorities |
| Expedite domestic and allied mineral production under DPA authority | Veteran-led team with direct DoD, DFC, and State Department relationships to navigate federal programs and accelerate project timelines |
| Build resilient supply chains through international partnerships (FORGE) | BGN International's global pipeline across Africa, Americas, and Indo-Pacific directly supports the FORGE diversification mandate |
| Leverage DFC, EXIM, and DoD capital for strategic mineral investments | Atlas is structured to originate, de-risk, and deliver projects that qualify for DPA Title III, EXIM financing, and DFC investment |
ATLAS RESOURCES
Two powerhouses. One mandate.
America's resource future is too important to leave to chance.
SECURING AMERICA'S RESOURCE FUTURE
STRENGTH • SOVEREIGNTY • SECURITY