Brimstone Secures $189 Million Federal Award to Launch U.S.-Based Alumina and Cement Production Facility

Brimstone, an Oakland-based leader in industrial innovation, has secured up to $189 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. This funding will support the development of Brimstone's groundbreaking Rock Refinery™ plant, aimed at producing deeply decarbonized portland cement, supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), and smelter-grade alumina from domestically sourced rocks.

The plant, projected to cost $378 million, will be the first new domestic source of smelter-grade alumina in a generation. Alumina is a critical mineral used to produce aluminum—a material essential for defense, aerospace, transportation, construction, and clean energy industries. Currently, the U.S. has only one operational alumina refinery, relying heavily on imported materials. Brimstone's innovation reduces this dependency by extracting alumina from abundant U.S. calcium silicate rocks, eliminating the need for imported bauxite.

“This milestone is a huge win for U.S. manufacturing,” said Brimstone CEO Cody Finke. “Our process secures the entire alumina supply chain domestically, reducing reliance on imports and bringing quality jobs back to the U.S.”

The project is part of Brimstone's larger vision to refine carbon-free calcium silicate rocks into cost-competitive, decarbonized industrial products. Brimstone's patented process can recover multiple critical materials from a single rock source, reducing costs, simplifying logistics, and cutting waste.

Kevin Kramer, former executive at Alcoa and ATI and now a senior advisor at Brimstone, highlighted the strategic importance of this project: “Aluminum is critical for U.S. aerospace, defense, and automotive industries. Brimstone’s 100% U.S.-based alumina production will significantly strengthen domestic supply chains and economic security.”

This initiative aligns with growing concerns over global supply chain vulnerabilities. China currently dominates global alumina and aluminum production, controlling about 60% of supply. The U.S., meanwhile, produces less than one-sixth of the aluminum it consumes, leaving it exposed to supply disruptions and price volatility.

Brimstone’s facility will help mitigate these risks by providing a stable, domestic supply of alumina. The company plans to begin pilot operations in 2025, with the commercial demonstration plant slated to be operational by the end of the decade.