Westwater Resources Announces Coosa Graphite Deposit’s Acceptance to FAST-41 U.S. Federal Permitting Framework
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fast-41regulatory
A FAST-41 designation comes from a U.S. law that sets up a coordinated, time-lined review process for large federal infrastructure projects, aiming to reduce delays by having agencies work together and meet clear deadlines. For investors, it matters because projects with FAST-41 oversight are likelier to reach permits and construction on schedule, reducing the risk of costly hold-ups much like a traffic controller clearing lanes so a convoy can move without unexpected stops.
permitting dashboardregulatory
A permitting dashboard is a centralized visual summary that tracks the status of required government permissions, licenses and regulatory approvals for a project or operation. Investors use it like a flight-status board to see which permits are approved, pending, or delayed, because permit progress affects a company’s ability to start work, generate revenue, and face regulatory risk — making timelines and costs easier to assess at a glance.
battery-gradetechnical
Battery-grade describes materials, chemicals, or components that meet the purity, consistency and performance standards required for use inside rechargeable batteries. For investors, this matters because battery-grade inputs reduce failure, improve lifespan and manufacturing yield, and often carry a price premium—think of it like buying cooking oil labeled ‘food-grade’ versus crude oil: higher specification makes the end product more reliable and commercially valuable.
natural flake graphitetechnical
Natural flake graphite is a naturally occurring form of carbon that breaks into thin, plate-like flakes when mined. Investors care because its physical quality and availability determine how easily it can be turned into products such as battery anodes, conductive materials and industrial lubricants; think of it like raw cotton — the better the raw fiber, the less work and cost to make valuable end products, so supply, grade and processing needs drive price and investment risk.
critical mineraltechnical
A critical mineral is a naturally occurring element or metal that is essential for modern technologies—like batteries, electronics, clean energy systems and defense—and whose supply is vulnerable to disruption. Investors care because these minerals act like key building blocks: shortages, geopolitical controls, or production bottlenecks can sharply raise costs, stall product rollouts, change profit forecasts, and prompt government policy or subsidies that affect company valuations.
CENTENNIAL, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Westwater Resources, Inc. (NYSE American: WWR), an energy technology and battery-grade natural graphite company (“Westwater” or the “Company”), today announced that the Coosa Graphite Deposit (“Coosa”) has been designated as a “covered project” under FAST-41 and added to the federal permitting dashboard.
Designation as a FAST-41 covered project supports a more coordinated and transparent federal permitting process, including a publicly available permitting timetable. This framework is designed to improve visibility and coordination as agencies advance environmental review and permitting activities for Coosa.
“This is an important step forward as we continue advancing Coosa,” said Frank Bakker, Chief Executive Officer of Westwater Resources. “We are making steady progress as we advance our mine-to-market platform and work toward building a domestic graphite supply chain.”
The Coosa Graphite Deposit, located in Coosa County, Alabama, is the largest natural flake graphite deposit in the contiguous United States and spans approximately 41,965 acres. Coosa’s addition to the FAST-41 Dashboard reflects its important role in building a domestic supply of graphite, a critical mineral used in batteries, energy storage, and industrial applications.
About Westwater Resources, Inc.
Westwater Resources, Inc. (NYSE American: WWR) is a critical minerals and energy technology company advancing a vertically integrated, mine-to-market platform for battery-grade natural graphite in the United States. The Company’s platform is anchored by the Coosa Graphite Deposit in Alabama, the largest natural flake graphite deposit in the contiguous United States, and the Kellyton Graphite Plant, a processing facility designed to produce coated spherical purified graphite (CSPG), a key material used in lithium-ion battery anodes. For more information, visit WestwaterResources.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are identified by words and phrases such as “more coordinated and transparent,” “improve visibility and coordination,” “advance,” “important,” “steady,” “largest,” “approximately,” “and other similar phrases and words. Forward looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning: operational developments including the construction of the Kellyton Graphite Plant, the development and permitting of the Coosa Graphite Deposit, and the costs, schedules, production and economic projections associated with both of them, and strategic priorities including progress on financing for the Kellyton Graphite Plant. The Company cautions that there are factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided.
The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. Those uncertainties and other factors are discussed in Westwater’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and subsequent securities filings, and they could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations.
