The Australian and Western Australian governments have announced a joint $3 million investment to support a feasibility study for a Critical Minerals Advanced Processing (CMAP) facility in Western Australia.
This initiative aims to bolster Australia’s critical minerals processing capabilities and strengthen its position in the global battery and critical minerals sector.
The feasibility study, led by the Minerals Resources Institute of Western Australia, will explore the establishment of a common user facility in the Perth region.
This project is part of the $10.2 million Critical Minerals National Productivity Initiative, which seeks to enhance Australia’s capacity to process critical minerals and strategic materials.
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King emphasised the importance of common user facilities in scaling up onshore processing capabilities.
“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,” Minister King stated.
The proposed Critical Minerals Advanced Processing (CMAP) facility will house pilot plant equipment for small and medium-sized businesses to undertake downstream processing of critical minerals at a demonstration scale.
This initiative aligns with the government’s strategy to capture more value onshore and expand advanced processing capabilities in the ‘midstream’ industries.
Western Australian Minister for Mines and Petroleum David Michael highlighted the potential of this project to position Australia as a key player in the global battery and critical minerals sector.
“To achieve these ambitions, a Critical Minerals Advanced Processing 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,” Minister Michael said.
This investment is part of the broader effort to deliver Western Australia’s Battery and Critical Minerals Strategy 2024-2030, which aims to capitalise on the state’s rich mineral resources and contribute to global decarbonisation efforts.
The announcement has been welcomed by the Western Australian mining sector, with industry representatives viewing it as an encouraging step towards realising the state’s downstream processing potential.
However, experts caution that sustained upstream production remains crucial for the success of downstream processing initiatives.
As the global demand for critical minerals continues to grow, this investment represents a significant step in Australia’s efforts to secure its position in the critical minerals supply chain and promote domestic processing capabilities.
