Western Australia has revealed plans to be a leading exporter of minerals for electric vehicle batteries and other EV items.
The state government has just produced its Future Battery Industry Strategy compiled by a task force working with communities, industry and research groups to set the direction for the multi-million development.
“Western Australia is uniquely placed to become a world leader in the future battery industry,” energy, mines and petroleum minister Bill Johnston says.
“We have the minerals, the technology and the expertise to seize this once in a lifetime opportunity to transform our economy. The State Government is committed to this vision, which will deliver jobs, skills, economic diversification and regional benefits across the state.”
WA has significant reserves of all critical battery minerals, the strategy shows. It describes WA as “the global leader in lithium production” and home to “the fourth largest vanadium and manganese resources, the second largest reserves of cobalt and the largest nickel resources”.
Non-battery minerals used for EVs and energy storage systems are also produced in WA. These include rare earth elements needed for electric motors.
Johnston says WA has the world-class skills and expertise to extract and process these minerals, exceptional ethical and sustainable production standards, infrastructure and workforce, and world-leading research capacity in mining and mineral processing.
The state’s vision also focuses on opportunities arising from the growing domestic uptake of battery technologies with companies already excelling at assembling, installing or controlling battery-based energy storage systems.
“We hope to build on their expertise to transform our economy and export our technologies,” Johnston says.
“The Western Australian Future Battery Industry Strategy showcases the state’s competitive advantages and provides a framework for Government leadership and clear, practical actions to deliver our vision for the Western Australian industry.”
The state is also considering fast tracking new battery projects and establishing a battery research centre, committing $6 million to the latter if successful in a bid to host the facility in Perth.
Visit www.jtsi.wa.gov.au/fbis for more information.
