This Month
Liontown’s future tied to Korean battery giant in $379m funding deal
Liontown boss Tony Ottaviano says the company’s flagship Kathleen Valley mine would be in production on-time and on-budget before the end of the month.
- Brad Thompson
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Bye-bye, banks: Liontown’s wild ride reveals critical minerals truths
The harsh reality of where the ASX’s two biggest sectors – banking and mining – cross over has played out before our eyes.
- Anthony Macdonald
June
- Updated
- Mining
Labor plans to open $13.7b critical minerals incentives to Chinese firms
China’s Tianqi and other foreign-owned entities are poised to qualify for the production tax credits, the draft eligibility guidelines reveal.
- Updated
- Brad Thompson
Niobium fever spreads as Encounter hits paydirt in WA1’s backyard
The West Arunta region is rapidly becoming Australia’s next critical minerals province after Encounter found high-grade niobium close to WA1’s Luni discovery
- Peter Ker
Pilbara’s lithium growth plans immune to price pressure
Lithium exporter Pilbara Minerals says it can triple lithium production in a value accretive way even if prices remain near current levels.
- Peter Ker
China’s ‘predatory’ tactics justify critical mineral subsidies: Kennedy
Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy says China’s dominance of critical minerals justifies the government’s taxpayer support for rare earths the world needs.
- John Kehoe
- Exclusive
- Mining
Chinese lithium pioneer calls for ‘fair go’ in Australia
Tianqi Lithium says it deserves access to the billions in tax incentives put up by the Albanese government, as it prepares to host Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
- Brad Thompson and Andrew Tillett
Serbia to give green light to Rio Tinto lithium mine
“New guarantees” from the Anglo-Australian miner and EU could transform the continent’s electric vehicle industry.
- Marton Dunai, Alec Russell, Harry Dempsey and Alice Hancock
LME failure on nickel due to its own self-interests: Rudd
The Australian ambassador says prices kept artificially low by China were creating a risk of a 20 per cent slump in global supply of the commodity.
- Matthew Cranston
- Opinion
- Jim Chalmers
Crackdown on Chinese investors a cautionary tale
Small critical minerals companies are caught up in the midst of a geopolitical struggle between China and the West. Northern Minerals is the latest example.
- Jennifer Hewett
The ASX’s hottest critical minerals stock seesaws on drilling results
WA1’s market capitalisation was just $9 million in early 2022 but has soared to $1.37 billion after it disclosed more information about its promising discovery.
- Peter Ker
May
EU critical minerals deal a boost for ‘green premium’ nickel
A new MoU between Australia and the European Union will smooth the way for investment in resources projects.
- Andrew Tillett
- Opinion
- Opinion
Why Dutton risks losing WA sentiment
Peter Dutton’s rejection of production tax credits for critical minerals processing is risking support in several must-win seats in Western Australia.
- Updated
- Jennifer Hewett
Readers back production tax credits, wary of immigration cuts
Most readers of The Australian Financial Review support the Albanese government’s production tax credits, but less than a third back his immigration cuts designed to tackle the housing crisis.
- Updated
- Gus McCubbing
Lithium giant says Chinese partners should have access to tax credits
IGO’s Ivan Vella says Chinese investors who pioneered Australian critical minerals processing have earned the right to be included in Labor’s incentives.
- Brad Thompson
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
The Anglo mine BHP craves explains why a deal boom is coming
Investors expect the growing demand for copper and the surging costs of building new mines will spark a frenzy of big mining deals, regardless of the outcome.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- China
Critical mineral miners chase China’s tail
The sector has welcomed the 10 per cent production tax credits but the big question is where the additional investment to fund growth will come from.
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Big China question hangs over Australia’s critical minerals sector
Geopolitical tensions between China and the West loom large over Australia’s critical minerals industry, and there are no easy answers.
- James Thomson
Big miners split with smaller peers over tax credit ‘white elephants’
Minerals Council chief executive Tania Constable says the government should limit access to the $13.7 billion production tax credit to avoid funding unviable projects.
- Peter Ker
Inside the most promising critical minerals discovery in years
WA1 Resources has enjoyed a 108-fold increase in share price since floating in 2022 thanks to a discovery near the tiny remote community of Kiwirrkurra in WA.
- Peter Ker