The US agency intends to acquire 6.4t of scandium oxide from Rio Tinto over the next five years. The US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is planning to purchase scandium oxide worth up to $40m (£29.62m) from Rio Tinto over the next five years to enhance the US defence stockpile, reported Reuters. The agency intends to acquire 6.4 tonnes (t) of scandium oxide within the five year period, beginning with nearly 2t in the first year. This initial purchase represents around 5% of the global scandium oxide production last year, which the US Geological Survey states was 40t, with current production capacity at 80t. Rio Tinto, in an email reply, told Reuters: “Rio Tinto is uniquely positioned to help secure materials critical to America’s future.”In August this year, the US awarded up to $10m to Elk Creek Resources, a subsidiary of NioCorp Developments, to bolster domestic sources.