The Australian federal government has granted WA1 Resources Ltd.’s Luni niobium project in Western Australia major project status for three years.
WA1 Resources said the move reflects Luni’s national significance and its potential to strengthen Australia’s economy and build sovereign capability.
Major project status is the Australian government’s recognition of the national significance of the project. If a project gets major project status, it gets extra support and coordinated approvals.
The Luni project was discovered in November 2022. The company’s initial mineral resource estimate in 2024 labelled Luni as the most significant niobium discovery in more than 70 years.
The project has a total mineral resource estimate of 220 million tonnes at 1 per cent niobium pentoxide for 2,200 tonnes and 10.3 per cent phosphorous pentoxide for 23,000 tonnes.
Niobium is used in various industries such as construction, mobility, batteries and healthcare.
WA1 Resources Managing Director Paul Savich said: “The scale and grade of Luni make it the most important niobium discovery globally in the past 70 years and deserving of its place as a project of national significance.
“This designation reinforces the project’s potential to deliver meaningful benefits for Australia and for regional communities, and we look forward to continuing our constructive engagement with both the federal and state governments.”