Yesterday
Critical minerals billionaire says taxpayer loans not enough
Explorers want their share of the further $2 billion of taxpayers’ money pledged towards the critical minerals sector this week, while Chris Ellison says it’s not enough
- Peter Ker and Brad Thompson
Western allies need to break China’s critical minerals monopoly
The US commerce secretary slams China’s inclination to cut off supplies to some countries, while Anthony Albanese says Australia can move up the value chain.
- Andrew Tillett
This Month
Albanese doubles critical minerals subsidies to $4b
Cheap finance and loan guarantees will be available for miners keen to expand exports and tap into Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act schemes.
- Andrew Tillett and Matthew Cranston
- Opinion
- Opinion
Critical minerals plan less work in progress than idea in germination
The Albanese government is keen to promote critical minerals and US cooperation as key to the energy transition and green manufacturing jobs.
- Jennifer Hewett
- Analysis
- AUKUS
The PM has two goals for this US trip
Encouraging US investment in Australia under the Inflation Reduction Act and ensuring Congress passes AUKUS legislation will be the focus for Anthony Albanese.
- Andrew Tillett
Deal off, game on: The battle for Liontown is just beginning
It’s exactly one year since Albemarle made the first of four bids to acquire Liontown. Now they’re gone, and the game starts again for a cast of big characters.
- Updated
- Peter Ker and Andrew Turner
Congress squabbling hangs over Albanese’s US visit
Wrangling over the US speakership is delaying plans to finalise Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s program for his trip to America, which includes lobbying for AUKUS.
- Andrew Tillett
Liontown’s $1.18b rescue awaits Rinehart’s endorsement
Australia’s four biggest banks and two government lenders have helped lithium star Liontown out of a funding hole.
- Peter Ker
Australia’s critical minerals list set for a major rethink
Coking coal and iron ore could be added to Australia’s critical minerals list under a definitional change hinted at by Resources Minister Madeleine King that bucks the global trend.
- Peter Ker
Why BHP is against ‘sugar hit’ subsidies for critical minerals
BHP boss Mike Henry says governments will stoke investment more sustainably through policy reform than by handing out subsidies that distort markets.
- Peter Ker
Rio Tinto ready for smaller, riskier projects in green energy hunt
Chairman Dominic Barton says the mining giant will widen the net in its search for materials for the energy transition.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Can brains disrupt Australia’s lithium mining brawn?
Some of the world’s biggest and smallest companies reckon technology can disrupt Australia’s lithium boom by unlocking vast new supplies and crushing prices.
- Peter Ker
- Exclusive
- Productivity
Why this former BHP exec now runs a battery recycling start-up
Former BHP finance boss Peter Beaven says Australia must become more competitive or risk losing start-ups like his new battery metals recycling play.
- Peter Ker
Ellison-backed rare earths play misses interim Chinese deal deadline
Shares in VHM, which is exploring in Victoria, fell more than 55 per cent after listing on the ASX in January. It remains in discussions with Shenghe.
- Elouise Fowler and Peter Ker
- Updated
- Mining
Graphite to surge, Syrah and Talga the best bet for investors: UBS
UBS said automakers will turn graphite for cheaper electric vehicle batteries, driving up the price and supporting two ASX-listed miners.
- Elouise Fowler
September
China’s grip on critical minerals draws warnings at IEA gathering
US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told a closed-door meeting of government officials in Paris that energy security is poised to become increasingly complex.
- Joe Deaux
Recycling is a must for the mining industry, BHP boss says
Mike Henry’s comments raise the question of whether BHP might follow Rio Tinto with a bigger investment in the scrap industry.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Macron woos Australia on critical minerals
Resources Minister Madeleine King has signed a pact with France to look at building secure supply chains from Australia to Europe.
- Hans van Leeuwen
- Opinion
- Opinion
Don’t discriminate against China on critical minerals
The Albanese government’s geopolitically focused strategy risks losing out both on Chinese investment in mining and to the US on processing.
- James Laurenceson
Billionaires v BHP in WA’s lithium power grab
No longer the speculative domain of evangelical retail shareholders, the lithium sector has won acceptance and trust from just about everyone except BHP.
- Peter Ker and Elouise Fowler
