Is Australia’s role in critical supply chains as ever – we supply materials, they do value adding

By Peter Roberts Some years into Australia’s newfound awareness of critical mineral supply chains and their importance to electrification and new technologies, have things changed all that much? Mostly, despite the hype of our being a battery or other materials ‘superpower’, Australia still supplies the raw materials and others do the economic value adding in…

Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Queensland science strategy to support new industries The Queensland government has launched a Future Queensland Science Strategy 2024-2029 which aims to capitalise on fields such as renewable energy, climate change mitigation and quantum and advanced technologies. It will seek to generate and translate Queensland’s scientific endeavours into new industries and investment. Science Advisory Council Queensland…

Canberra loan backs Nolans rare earths project

The federal government has provided debt financing to the massive Nolans rare earths project, 135 kilometres from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Arafura Rare Earths announced that the federal government would provide conditions debt finance of US$533 million to catalyse the project’s remaining debt raising. As reported in @AuManufacturing, Arafura is advancing enabling works…