Korea Zinc's planned $7.4 billion smelter project in Tennessee is drawing growing support from local officials, who say it will create jobs and help secure US supplies of critical minerals.
The endorsement comes days after US President Donald Trump promoted the project at a campaign rally, touting its economic benefits ahead of next month’s midterms.
Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts welcomed the investment, citing its significance for the local economy and US mineral security, according to Nashville-based broadcaster WKRN on Tuesday.
“We’re excited about this announcement,” Pitts said. “Obviously, it comes at a critical time and in the history of our nation when we need the critical minerals.”
“They’re going to take over the existing zinc plant and double it in size,” Tennessee state Rep. Ronnie Glynn, a Democrat representing Clarksville, said. “So nothing but excitement behind it.”
Korea Zinc, under the project known as Project Crucible, is building an integrated nonferrous metals smelting and processing complex spanning 650,000 square meters in Clarksville, Tennessee, in cooperation with the US government and other strategic partners. Construction is set to start in 2027, with full commercial operations expected by 2029.
The planned $7.4 billion investment includes $210 million in funding awarded by the US Commerce Department under the CHIPS Act.
Once completed, the facility will produce 13 nonferrous metals, including 11 minerals designated as critical by the US government. They include gallium, germanium and indium antimony, all key minerals used in semiconductors, defense equipment and manufacturing. The project is aimed at reducing US dependence on foreign suppliers, particularly China.
Trump praised the investment during a Republican campaign rally in Clarksville on Oct. 10.
“Thanks to my tariffs, Korea Zinc is investing over $6 billion and creating 740 jobs right here in Montgomery County and Smith County,” Trump said.
He also highlighted that the project is the first new mineral smelter in the US since 1979.
The project has also gained attention as Washington steps up efforts to secure critical minerals for its semiconductor industry.
At the SEMICON West 2026 CEO Summit on Tuesday, Bill Frauenhofer, executive director of semiconductor investment and innovation at the Commerce Department, stressed that expanding chipmaking capacity alone would not be enough without reliable supplies of chemicals, specialty gases, minerals and other essential materials.
According to reports of the event, Frauenhofer cited Korea’s Tennessee project as an example of efforts to strengthen US critical mineral supply chains.
Korea Zinc plans to leverage its years of smelting expertise from its Onsan facility in South Korea to build a US production base serving the semiconductor, artificial intelligence and defense industries.
sahn@heraldcorp.com