Australia Critical Minerals
Australia holds substantial resources across critical minerals essential for defense, the energy transition and advanced technology. The 2023 Critical Minerals Strategy focuses on developing downstream processing capacity to capture greater economic value.
Australia Resource Benchmarks
Key Federal Investment Programs
Critical Minerals Facility
Export Finance Australia (EFA) provides loans and guarantees to critical minerals projects that are difficult to finance through commercial channels alone.
Resources Technology & Processing Hub
Targets downstream processing and manufacturing of critical minerals, aiming to capture more of the value chain domestically.
Geological Survey Work Program
Geoscience Australia co-ordinates national geological surveys, pre-competitive data programs and resource assessments to reduce exploration risk.
International Partnerships
Australia has signed critical minerals partnerships with the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Japan, South Korea and India.
Key Australian Commodities
Lithium
Pilbara, Goldfields-Esperance regions. World's largest lithium resources.
Nickel
Western Australia is Australia's primary nickel-producing state.
Cobalt
Mostly produced as a by-product of nickel mining in Western Australia.
Rare earths
Multiple advanced projects and one of the largest identified resources globally.
Copper
Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales are primary producing states.
Manganese
Northern Territory is a significant manganese producer. Groote Eylandt.
Vanadium
Western Australia holds large identified vanadium resources.
Titanium & Zirconium
Major mineral sands operations in Western Australia and Queensland.
Graphite
Advanced exploration and development projects under way.