The Australian and Western Australian Governments are teaming up to bolster Australia's critical minerals processing power.
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King and WA Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael today announced a joint $3 million investment to support a feasibility study for a common user Critical Minerals Advanced Processing (CMAP) facility in WA.
The feasibility study will be led by the Minerals Resources Institute of Western Australia.
Minister King said the funding under the $10.2 million Critical Minerals National Productivity Initiative will investigate a facility to be built in the Perth region.
"The CMAP facility will be home to pilot plant equipment for small and medium sized businesses to undertake downstream processing of critical minerals and strategic materials at demonstration scale," Minister King said.
"Common user facilities are an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to scaling up our capacity to process our mineral resources here onshore - while securing more of the value chain.
"By equipping local businesses with the tools to process what they dig up, we'll not only be helping them collaborate and grow - but also enhancing our economic resilience and further strengthening Australia's sovereign capability."
Western Australian Minister for Mines and Petroleum David Michael said the study will help position Australia as an important player in the global battery and critical minerals sector which underpin decarbonisation efforts.
"The Cook Government aims to capture more value onshore, with a particular focus on expanding our advanced processing capabilities and or 'midstream' industries.
"To achieve these ambitions, a Critical Minerals Advanced Processing (CMAP) facility capable of demonstrating critical minerals processing to a more advanced value-added stage, will lead to the development of greater onshore processing and manufacturing opportunities, over the next 10 to 20 years.
"The Cook Government is committed to delivering Western Australia's Battery and Critical Minerals Strategy 2024-2030 and welcomes the Federal Government's support to deliver this vision which will benefit the nation."
