Element 25’s grant for US factory replacing China supply

By Peter Roberts The emerging pattern of Australia digging up the critical minerals while others finance the construction of value adding processing in their own markets is repeating itself in battery material manganese, with Element 25 securing lucrative US government support. Element 25, which is developing the Butcherbird manganese deposit in Western Australia’s Pilbara, has…

Replacement for Freshwater ferries to be electric, locally-made

The NSW government has said that the next generation of Sydney’s Freshwater ferries will be locally-made, with Transport for NSW beginning “market sounding” for a zero-emissions fleet, contrasting this with previous decisions to purchase three overseas-made vessels for the Circular Quay to Manly route. In a statement on Tuesday, the government said the upcoming Freshwater…

CSIRO’s nanofibre military uniform revealed

CSIRO researchers have successfully developed a next-generation uniform prototype that employs nanofibres to safeguard Australian troops from chemical and biological threats. The innovative material is a lightweight fabric that effectively filters out harmful particles while remaining light-weight and breathable, keeping the wearer comfortable in extreme temperatures. CSIRO Manufacturing Research Unit Director Dr Marcus Zipper said…