Matt Canavan.
Australia could become a major global supplier of minerals critical to new technologies, particularly for electric vehicles, renewables and rechargeable batteries.
That’s according to resources and Northern Australia minister Matt Canavan.
Releasing a report from Geoscience Australia – Critical Minerals in Australia – Canavan says Australia is well placed to produce significant extra wealth from its extensive mineral resources and world-class mining expertise.
Commissioned by Geoscience Australia in collaboration with RMIT University and Monash University, the report analyses the state of critical minerals in Australia and highlights key areas for future research.
“Australia is already demonstrating it can meet the needs of key trading partners in a range of critical minerals,” Canavan says.
“We are one of the world’s top five producers of antimony, cobalt, lithium and rare earths, minerals rated as ‘critical’ by the US, UK or EU.
“The growing list of new and emerging technologies using critical minerals includes advanced manufacturing and health applications, rechargeable batteries, renewable energy systems and electric cars.”
‘Critical’ means a mineral must be both economically important to society and vulnerable to supply disruption.
Canavan says the Australian Government is committed to ensuring Australia reaches its potential as a global supplier of critical minerals.
“The Australia’s National Resources Statement released in February 2019 outlined the development of a national strategy through the Council of Australian Governments Energy Council to harness the emerging opportunities offered by the critical minerals sector,” he says.
“We also announced critical minerals projects would be prioritised in the latest industry funding round, which closes on March 28.
Canavan says key trading partners are being brought on board. “Late last year, I signed a Letter of Intent with my counterpart from the United States agreeing to collaborate on joint activities in the area of critical minerals.”
Visit ga.gov.au/criticalminerals for the Critical Minerals in Australia: A Review of Opportunities and Research Needs report and see www.business.gov.au/crc-p
for more information about the latest industry funding round, Round 7 of the Cooperative Research Centres Project grants.
