What is Korea Zinc building in Tennessee under Project Crucible?

Korea Zinc plans to build a critical metals refinery in Clarksville, Tennessee. The project is valued at $7.4 billion and is intended to produce 11 core minerals, 12 nonferrous metals and semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid.

Why does the environmental impact assessment matter for Korea Zinc's U.S. project?

The company said the approval is expected to accelerate the plan and help move Project Crucible forward. It also noted that the project is the first FAST-41 project approved by the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council since its memorandum of understanding with Tennessee in May.

When is Korea Zinc's Tennessee refinery expected to start operations?

Korea Zinc said the facility is scheduled to begin test operations in 2029. Commercial production is planned for the following year.

Korea Zinc's US project clears environmental impact assessment

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Summary

Korea Zinc said Monday that its $7.4 billion U.S. manufacturing project has cleared an environmental impact assessment. The approval is expected to speed up Project Crucible, a critical metals refinery planned in Clarksville, Tennessee. The facility is set to begin test operations in 2029 and commercial production the following year. It is the first FAST-41 project approved by the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council since Korea Zinc signed a memorandum of understanding with Tennessee in May.

Key Facts

Project Crucible is planned for Clarksville, Tennessee, and Korea Zinc said the approval should accelerate the refinery plan.
The facility is scheduled to begin test operations in 2029.
Commercial production is expected to follow in 2030, with output of 11 core minerals, 12 nonferrous metals and semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid.
Korea Zinc said it completed the acquisition of a local zinc smelter and other related companies in April.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said the FAST-41 designation will help move the project forward without unnecessary delays.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 21, 2026 3:51 pm KST

Korea Zinc Chairman Choi Yun-birm, second from left, tours the Project Crucible's site of the company's planned integrated smelter in the U.S. Courtesy of Korea Zinc

Korea Zinc, the world's largest refined zinc smelter, said on Monday that its $7.4 billion U.S. manufacturing project has cleared an environmental impact assessment.

The approval is expected to accelerate the company's plan to build a critical metals refinery in Clarksville, Tennessee, under the project name "Project Crucible," the company said in a press release.

The facility is scheduled to begin test operations in 2029 and commercial production of 11 core minerals, 12 nonferrous metals and semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid the following year.

Project Crucible is the first "FAST-41" project approved by the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council since Korea Zinc signed a memorandum of understanding with the state of Tennessee in May, the company said.

"With Project Crucible now designated as a FAST-41 project, we are accelerating critical infrastructure development and improving government efficiency to move this project forward without unnecessary delays," Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said.

In April, Korea Zinc said it had completed the acquisition of a local zinc smelter and other related companies, and planned to carry out the project by expanding and renovating existing facilities.

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