Australia’s Western region is poised to become a global leader in responsibly sourced battery minerals, with government support being deemed crucial for the industry’s success. At the Paydirt conference in Perth, WA Minister for Mines David Michael stressed the importance of governmental backing for the production of lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, high purity alumina, rare earths, and copper.
Minister Michael highlighted the significance of these minerals in supporting decarbonization efforts and mentioned the federal government’s consideration of measures such as production tax credits for companies investing in critical minerals processing facilities. He also expressed optimism about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Made in Australia Act and its potential benefits for Western Australia’s resource-rich economy.
Despite the ongoing development of a multi-billion dollar battery and critical minerals industry in WA, the challenge now lies in attracting more global-scale investments in processing and battery manufacturing. Local nickel producers have faced challenges due to an oversupply of Chinese-financed nickel from Indonesia, underscoring the need for strategic initiatives to strengthen the local industry.
The federal government’s efforts to streamline environmental regulations and the WA government’s initiatives to facilitate industrial land availability and accelerate approval processes are expected to support the growth of the sector. Major investments by companies like Lynas Rare Earths and Iluka Resources are set to position WA as a key player in rare earths processing, while also paving the way for the development of a vanadium battery industry.
With the abundant resources and potential for innovation in Western Australia, the region is primed to make significant contributions to the global battery minerals market and advance sustainable energy solutions.
