THE opening of The Critical Minerals Facilitation Office, announced by Resources and Northern Australia Minister Matt Canavan last week, aims to untap Australia’s rich resource of critical mineral deposits.
The new facility will be led by Jessica Robinson, a former senior official in Treasury and Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The Office bases its strategy targets actions in three areas: to promote investment in Australia’s critical minerals sector and downstream processing; provide incentives for innovation to lower costs and increase competitiveness; and connect critical minerals projects with infrastructure development.
This will be achieved by coordinating and connecting government, industry and the research sector.
Ms Robinson said her mission is to work with the sector to develop a clear, shared vision for Australia’s critical minerals sector.
“I want to join all the different parts of the sector together, from research and development in universities, to pilot and full-scale projects on the ground, to promoting business opportunities in supply chains both here in Australia and overseas,” she said.
Planned actions include international roadshows promoting investment in the sector, $20m of funding for projects with a specific focus on critical minerals and $34.45m to develop technology to allow lower-grade ores to be efficiently mined.
Australia’s world-leading expertise in resource extraction and processing and renewables research adds to its attraction as a destination for investment.
By examining the lists of critical minerals published in several markets and matching those against Australia’s known geological endowment, the government hopes to work toward positioning Australia as a prime producer of critical minerals.
