Published: March 17, 2022 |

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The Australian government has announced a funding of over A$243 million ($178 million) for four projects with an aim to boost the country’s critical minerals sector.

The funding will be available to a A$399 million ($292.3 million) nickel manganese cobalt battery material refinery hub by Pure Battery Technologies (PBT), a project led by Australian Vanadium, Arafura Resources’ Nolans project, and a high purity alumina production facility by Alpha HPA.

According to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the projects are important to securing manufacturing in the country and the thousands of jobs generated by them.

The funding will be made under the collaboration stream of the government’s A$1.3 billion ($952.3 million) Modern Manufacturing Initiative.

Put together, the four projects will generate more than 3,400 jobs over time and consolidate Australia’s position in the quickly growing critical minerals, electric vehicle, and battery markets, said the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Projects like these make for a stronger economy and a stronger future for Australia. These projects are about manufacturing the products and materials Australians need and the world needs, by making them right here at home,” said Morrison.

“We’re helping grow the local critical minerals processing and clean energy industries and locking in the future of those industries by backing manufacturing projects in Australia,” added Morrison.

Pure Battery Technologies will be getting A$119.6 million ($87.61 million) funding for its $399 million ($292.3 million) Western Australian pCAM Hub. The company, in partnership with Poseidon Nickel, will construct the battery material refinery hub in the Kalgoorlie region.

“This project will add significant value to the battery minerals it processes, and Poseidon is well placed to be a major beneficiary given it has the potential to be a significant supplier of feed to PBT’s proposed PCAM Hub from our existing 400,000 tonnes nickel resource base and nickel concentrators at Black Swan and Lake Johnston,” said Poseidon Nickel Managing Director and CEO Peter Harold.

Australian Vanadium and its partners will get A$49 million ($36 million) for an A$367 million ($268.8 million) project that will process high-grade vanadium from the company’s Meekatharra mine in Western Australia. The processed vanadium is transported to its Tenindewa plant, which is powered by clean hydrogen produced by partner ATCO Australia.

Arafura Resources will get a funding of A$30 million ($22 million) for the A$90.8 million ($66.5 million) Nolans project, which is a rare earth separation plant to be built near Aileron in the Northern Territory.

Alpha HPA will get A$45 million ($33 million) for its A$330 million ($242 million) alumina production facility, which it will construct in partnership with Orica near Gladstone.

Source: NS Energy

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