By Stefan Skorut Amid the general enthusiasm for the Trump-Albanese critical minerals deal, it’s vital for policymakers to be aware that the potential benefits could be wasted if Australia does not continue to support our globally leading innovation. The highly anticipated $US 8.5 billion deal aims to address a key feature of critical minerals markets:…
By Michael Preuss, Monash University; University of Manchester and Maggie Zhai, RMIT University There has been much excitement since Australia signed a landmark agreement with the United States last month to expand cooperation on critical minerals and rare earth elements. These materials are essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and clean energy technologies. The deal…
The Australian and Canadian resources ministers have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on Critical Minerals Collaboration, which they say will “promote and strengthen cooperation and trade in critical minerals value chains” between the two countries. According to a statement from Australian resources minister Madeleine King on Saturday (Australian time), the declaration of intent signed…
Latrobe Magnesium, which is commercialising a method of extracting magnesium and other useful material from brown coal fly ash, is one of seven Australian companies receiving Letters of Interest (LOIs) totalling over $US 2.2 billion (approximately $3.4 billion) from lender the U.S Export Import Bank (EXIM.) According to a statement from Latrobe Magnesium, EXIM’s financing…
By Amir Razmjou, Edith Cowan University Critical minerals are having a moment. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is at the White House to talk up Australia’s rich deposits with President Donald Trump. China, which has a global stranglehold on rare earth elements, recently imposed new export restrictions, much to Trump’s annoyance. It’s clear there’s an era…
A plan by Alcoa and others to produce gallium alongside alumina at an existing Western Australian refinery has received a boost, with the Australian government making a $307 million financial commitment in the Alcoa-Sojitz Gallium Recovery Project in Wagerup following the meeting of the US’s and Australia’s leadership. A Joint Development Agreement by the Japan…
CSIRO is inviting applications for the upcoming round of its free eight-week Innovate to Grow program for startups and SMEs, to be focussed on critical minerals. According to a statement from CSIRO on Monday, the online course will offer help with companies’ “innovative ideas”, new R&D opportunities, and refinement of concepts to “better position themselves…
Alcoa of Australia has signed a joint development agreement with Japan Australia Gallium Associates to explore establishing gallium production at one of its Western Australian alumina refineries, according to an announcement on Sunday. The partnership with Japan Australia Gallium Associates, a joint venture between Sojitz Corporation and Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security, aims…
Australian Vanadium has achieved a key regulatory milestone with planning approval for its vanadium processing facility at Tenindewa, approximately 65 kilometres east of Geraldton, according to an announcement on Sunday. The Western Australian Planning Commission approved the development application for the processing plant, which forms a central component of the company’s integrated vanadium supply chain…
Metal processor Nyrstar Australia urgently needs to secure a government rescue package to ensure a future for its loss-making smelters in South Australia and Tasmania, as The Australian Financial Review reports. Chief executive Matt Howell said the company’s Swiss owner was weighing whether to close the plants within weeks. Howell, who took over as chief…