PROSPECT initiative aims to double mining engineering graduates across the US

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation visited the University of Texas at El Paso to discuss national efforts to "shore up" the mineral workforce.

The DOE's visit highlighted UTEP's relaunch of its Mining Engineering program, which is now the only one of its kind in Texas.

UTEP is expected to graduate up to 100 mining engineers annually, according to the DOE.

Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson visited UTEP as part of her engagement with universities following the DOE's launch of the $100 million PROSPECT initiative.

PROSPECT aims to double the nation's graduates in mining engineering, metallurgy and critical minerals supply chain fields over the next two years, the department said.

"The ability to harvest those resources and turn them into the materials we need for our modern way of life to function has left the country. The last 30 years, we've deindustrialized," Robertson said. "We're trying to change that if we're going to reindustrialize as a nation, we have to have the materials here to do that."

Robertson said UTEP is one of just 14 schools offering mining engineering and supply chain degrees.