The Western Australian Government refreshed its Critical Minerals Strategy for 2024–2030 on May 22. Australian Mining takes a look at how the industry has reacted to the changes.
The changes
To support the development of its battery and critical minerals industries, the WA Government will prioritise:
- creating a more efficient approvals system
- planning and investing in common user infrastructure
- targeted support for strategically important projects.
The growth of the mining industry and changes in the international investment environment were cited as the reasons for the refresh, the first since 2020.
CME
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA (CME) welcomed the updated strategy and said its members provided consultation on it.
CME chief executive officer (CEO) Rebecca Tomkinson highlighted the importance of State and Federal Government policies being changed to better reflect the industry’s current operating environment.
“Our submission to the Battery and Critical Minerals Strategy update highlighted the key points we have been strongly recommending on behalf of our members, in order for the resources industry to remain resilient and in a position to seize opportunities as and when they arise,” Tomkinson said.
“WA has the resources, operational stability and ESG (environment, social and governance) credentials to deliver what the world needs for its energy future but, like any business, we need to be agile and competitive and to do that, we need governments to deliver on their pledges.”
Tomkinson was pleased with the pledge to implement a more efficient approvals system and to plan and invest in common user infrastructure.
“We have long advocated for greater visibility and stronger, coordinated state-federal effort to reduce the end-to-end regulatory complexity and burden of interagency approvals, to attract strategic investment in our critical minerals,” she said.
“A more efficient approvals system means greater certainty for businesses looking to invest and works to improve Australia’s competitive position.
“We welcome the strategy’s focus on ensuring the resilience of existing upstream industries and prioritising midstream development, but we can’t move downstream without a sustainable and scalable upstream.”
AMEC
Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) CEO Warren Pearce said the changes to the strategy demonstrates the WA Government’s commitment to critical minerals.
“As the global demand for critical minerals continues to grow and change, the world needs Australia to develop its critical minerals so that we can decarbonise,” Pearce said.
“WA stands ready to help decouple and diversify supply chains with significant critical mineral deposits and prospectivity. However, in order for the state to realise its vision, more action is required.
“We need to further streamline the regulatory approvals processes, to enable mineral exploration and mining projects to be developed in a time efficient and cost-effective manner.
“There are currently over 50 critical minerals projects being developed in WA. If we are to help Australia and the world achieve our net-zero ambitions, critical mineral projects need to move ahead to provide the minerals needed to develop decarbonisation and renewable technologies.”
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