Iluka Resources orders equipment for Australia’s first rare earths refinery

By Peter Roberts Mining company Iluka Resources has awarded long lead procurement packages for key equipment for the company’s planned rare earths refinery at its Eneabba zircon mine in Western Australia – the first refinery for rare earths in Australia for the minerals used in high technology products. The company is procuring the roasting kiln,…

Critical mineral nickel slump spurs government action

A slump in prices for the critical mineral nickel – used in battery manufacture – has brought action from the federal and Western Australian governments. In the past few days federal Resources Minister Madeleine King placed nickel on the Critical Minerals List, giving nickel companies opportunity to access billions of dollars in Commonwealth funding. And…

52 critical minerals projects ready to go

The federal government has released an Australian Critical Minerals Prospectus which showcases 52 high-quality, investment ready critical minerals projects. Projects ripe for funding include mining, processing and value adding opportunities across the critical minerals supply chain, according to the prospectus. Australia’s critical mineral resources are considered vital in the global shift to green technology such…

Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

EOS enters optical surveillance alliance Electro Optic Systems subsidiary EOS Space Systems has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EX-Fusion, a Japanese laser fusion startup. The signing took place during the fifth Japan-Australia Ministerial Economic Dialogue co-chaired by Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Don Farrell, and Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and…

Iluka progresses critical rare earths refinery

Iluka Resurces has continued to progress during the latest quarter its rare earths production plant at Eneabba in Western Australia (pictured), the country’s first fully integrated refinery for the production of separated rare earth oxides. Supported by a $1.25 billion non-recourse loan to Iluka under the federal government’s Critical Minerals Facility, bulk earth works and…