The Western Australian Government is refocusing the state’s activities in the rapidly evolving battery and critical minerals sector with the release of an important consultation paper.

WA has seen rapid growth of battery and critical minerals industries since the introduction of the Battery and Critical Minerals Strategy in 2019.

Since then, nickel sulphate and lithium hydroxide — key chemicals in lithium-ion batteries — refineries have been established, as well as two downstream rare earth processing plants.

WA Energy Minister Bill Johnston said: “Western Australia is a globally significant battery and critical minerals processing hub and it is important we do all we can to further capitalise on this incredible opportunity.

“A diversified battery industry is forecast to contribute nearly $17 billion in gross value added and over 61,000 jobs to the national economy by 2030. This is more than twice the value first estimated in 2021.

“Hearing from the industry is critical to ensuring we have the right strategy in place to continue to grow into the future,” said Johnston.

A consultation paper seeking feedback to update the refreshed strategy is now available.

Stakeholder input will be vital to identifying priority actions required to support industry development.

The strategy aims to further grow WA’s battery and critical minerals industries, with an extra emphasis on increasing domestic value-adding and manufacturing.

Since the strategy was last updated in 2020, there have been changes in the international investment environment, including significant global policy shifts in the critical minerals and renewables industries.