Victory Metals has announced a new strategic partnership designed to position Australia as a leader in heavy rare earth elements (HREE), essential for advanced technologies and defence supply chains.
Under the partnership, Victory Metals will collaborate with the Australian government-backed Resources Technology and Critical Trailblazer, run by Curtin University, with specialist staff with expertise in water management and recycling being provided to help advance the North Stanmore project towards commercial production.
The collaboration follows sustained global interest in diversifying rare earth supply chains away from dominant sources in China, with heavy rare earths like dysprosium and terbium in high demand for electric vehicle motors, wind turbines and defence systems.
Victory’s North Stanmore deposit also contains valuable by-products such as scandium, hafnium and gallium, enhancing its strategic appeal.
“The partnership reflected Curtin’s leadership in critical minerals and advanced processing,” Curtin University’s head of Western Australian School of Mines Professor Mark Buntine said.
“Curtin is a national leader in minerals processing, hydrometallurgy and sustainable resource technologies, with advanced facilities and a strong track record of translating research into industry outcomes.
“We are proud to lead the technical development of this nationally significant project, bringing together our world-class expertise with Victory Metals’ exceptional North Stanmore rare earth resource,” Buntine said.
The partnership builds on a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) with Japanese trading powerhouse Sumitomo Corporation, which outlines an offtake and cooperation roadmap for Victory’s flagship North Stanmore Project in Western Australia, one of the largest clay-hosted HREE deposits globally.
Under the LOI, Sumitomo will work with Victory on technical evaluations, pilot sales, pricing mechanisms, and the path toward a binding agreement expected to run through 2028.
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