New critical minerals processing facilities have been opened in Sydney, aimed at strengthening Australia’s capability to refine resources used in renewable energy technologies, defence applications and other advanced industries, according to a joint media release from the Australian Government.
The facilities, located at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s (ANSTO) site at Lucas Heights, include new processing capability for clay-hosted rare earth deposits and a high temperature chlorination facility designed to produce high-purity quartz.
The materials are key inputs for semiconductors, solar panels, telecommunications systems, medical equipment and defence technologies.
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King said the government is focused on strengthening Australia’s role in global supply chains for critical minerals.
“Australia is meeting its responsibility to step up and lead on critical minerals and rare earths globally,” King said.
She added that developing domestic processing capacity would support industry growth and reduce dependence on international supply chains. “Developing facilities to support Australia’s processing capability will help strengthen our domestic critical minerals industry and create jobs, and is key to reducing reliance on overseas supply chains,” she said.
Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres said the investment reflects a broader focus on value-adding within Australia rather than exporting raw materials for processing overseas.
“These new facilities at Lucas Heights show what a Future Made in Australia looks like: more processing and value adding onshore, not shipping opportunity offshore,” Ayres said.
He said collaboration between scientific agencies and industry is central to scaling up capability in the sector.
“By bringing together the applied research strengths of ANSTO and CSIRO, working collaboratively across government and with industry, we’re helping Australian firms scale up processes, build supply chains, and capture more of the value from our world class resources,” he said.
The expansion of ANSTO’s rare earth processing work has been supported through the Australian Critical Minerals R&D Hub, which brings together ANSTO, CSIRO and Geoscience Australia.
According to the government, the hub is intended to address technical challenges and support the development of Australia’s critical minerals sector in line with the Critical Minerals Strategy.
