Critical minerals

We are growing our critical minerals sector to make Australia a world-leading producer of raw and processed critical minerals. Find investment opportunities, funding and initiatives.

We need critical minerals to make the critical technologies modern economies rely on. Like those underpinning renewable energy, medicine and national security.

Australia is home to some of the largest recoverable critical minerals deposits on earth. This includes high-quality cobalt, lithium, manganese, rare earth elements, tungsten and vanadium.

We are developing new industries to process more of these minerals in Australia. This creates jobs and economic benefits for all Australians and strengthens global supply chains.  

Our ethically sourced and high-quality critical minerals are helping the world modernise and decarbonise. This includes helping Australia achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Critical Minerals Strategy

The Australian Government is focusing on:

  • attracting international investments and building international partnerships
  • growing our critical minerals processing and manufacturing capabilities onshore
  • getting more value from our natural resources and helping Australia become a renewable energy superpower
  • creating Australian jobs and economic opportunities, including for our First Nations and regional communities.

Critical minerals and technologies

Critical minerals priorities align with many of Australia’s critical technology priorities. For example:

  • batteries and battery components
  • rare earth permanent magnets
  • catalysts for hydrogen production
  • semiconductors for micro-chips and solar photovoltaics (PV)
  • defence technologies.

Critical Minerals Office (CMO)

The CMO is the Australian Government's central coordination point for critical minerals. The CMO:

  • provides national policy and strategic advice
  • facilitates international partnerships
  • facilitates services to develop the sector.

Why you should invest in Australia’s critical minerals

We have a solid track record as a reliable critical mineral’s producer and exporter. We are experts in ethical extraction and world-leaders in developing responsible projects to high environmental, social and governance (ESG) credentials.

Major mining companies, junior explorers and financiers can benefit from Australia’s:

  • mature mining industry and deep expertise in resource extraction and processing
  • supportive government, policies, incentives and programs for the resources sector
  • pre-competitive geoscience information in identifying areas of resource potential
  • robust regulatory, construction, environmental and safety standards
  • stable business location with close ties to Asia’s growing markets.

Learn more about our critical minerals potential

Austrade’s Critical Minerals Prospectus 2022 showcases investment-ready projects across Australia. Austrade also has information about the mining equipment, technology and services sector and mining, oil and gas industry capabilities.

Geoscience Australia provides:

Our Resources and Energy Quarterly forecasts the value, volume and price of Australia’s major resources and energy commodity exports.

Find Australian Government funding and initiatives

We provide a range of grants, finance and support for critical minerals projects.

From our department

Currently closed

Critical Minerals Development Program (CMDP)

Critical Minerals Development Program grants support early and mid-stage critical minerals projects. The current round will provide up to $50 million over 3 years for competitive grants to support early and mid-stage critical minerals projects.

The Critical Minerals Development Program will:  

  • help grow Australia’s Critical Minerals industry
  • support Australia’s transition to net zero emissions
  • support economic development and jobs in regional communities.

Businesses and state or territory governments can apply for a co-funded grant of up to $30 million.

Grants can be used for feasibility studies, engineering design work, and building pilot or demonstration facilities amongst other activities.

Currently closed

Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Grants

Our CRC Grants support medium to long-term collaborative research for up to 10 years.

We help you partner with the research sector to solve industry-identified problems. 

The CRC Program supports the development of technologies, products and services that help reduce Australian industry problems. It aims to increase their:

  • competitiveness
  • productivity
  • sustainability.

Contact crc.program@industry.gov.au

National Reconstruction Fund (NRF)

The National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) will provide finance for projects that diversify and transform Australia’s industry and economy.

Priority areas 

The Australian Government established the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) to support 7 priority areas: 

  • value-add in resources
  • value-add in agriculture, forestry and fisheries 
  • transport
  • medical science
  • renewables and low emission technologies
  • defence capability 
  • enabling capabilities. 

The NRFC will provide finance in the form of debt, equity and guarantees to support Australian projects that drive high-value industry transformation. 

Major Projects Facilitation Agency

The Major Projects Facilitation Agency (MPFA) provides information and help with regulatory approvals for major projects in Australia. The MPFA is the Australian Government entry point for developers of projects over $20 million.

Research and Development Tax Incentive

The Research and Development (R&D) Tax Incentive is the government’s key mechanism to stimulate industry investment in R&D in Australia.

It is jointly administered by Industry Innovation and Science Australia (IISA) and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). 

From other government agencies

Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC)

The CEFC has a unique role to increase investment in Australia’s transition to lower emissions.

Export Finance Australia (EFA)

EFA support Australian businesses and projects with access to flexible finance.

Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive (JMEI)

The JMEI encourages investment in small minerals exploration companies that carry out greenfields mineral exploration in Australia.

Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF)

NAIF is a development financier for infrastructure projects in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia.

Access the Australian Government’s critical minerals expertise

We provide evidence, expertise and advice to support critical minerals investors and project proponents.

Austrade

Austrade is the government’s lead trade and investment facilitation agency. It supports the critical minerals sector by developing commercial partnerships to connect Australia with trade partners and target markets.

Australia Minerals

Australia Minerals is a collaboration of Australia's federal and state geoscience agencies that provides information and expertise to support mineral explorers realise investment opportunities.

Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)

The ANSTO Minerals team provides process development services, technical reviews and consulting services to clients in the mining and mineral processing industries.

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

CSIRO is one of the largest minerals research groups in the world. It partners with industry, government and the research sector to deliver breakthrough innovation across the minerals value chain.

Foreign Investment Review Board

The Foreign Investment Review Board provides information on foreign investment approval requirements for investing in Australia.

Geoscience Australia

Geoscience Australia maximises benefits from Australia’s wealth of mineral resources. It provides geoscience data, expertise and analysis, and stimulates mineral exploration and investment.

Latest news

Minister for Resources Madeleine King addresses the IEA Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Summit in Paris on 28 September 2023. On the left is Ms Victoria Pullen (General Manager, Critical Minerals Office; Chair of the IEA Critical Minerals Working Party) and to the right is Dr Fatih Birol (Executive Director, IEA). Photo credit: International Energy Agency.
Critical Minerals Office

Australia drives global critical minerals policy at international summit

Ministers, industry leaders and civil society meet in Paris to galvanise action on global critical minerals supply chains.
Minister for Resources Madeleine King signs the bilateral agreement with France’s Minister for the Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher.
Critical Minerals Office

Australia and France sign bilateral agreement on critical minerals

The Bilateral Dialogue on Critical Minerals signals stronger cooperation between the 2 countries.
Wind turbines in the outback at sunset
Critical Minerals Office

Australia’s Critical Minerals List: have your say

We want to hear your thoughts on updating our list of critical minerals. Submissions close 17 August 2023
A group of people in business attire standing at a large, open plan exhibition stand at the 2023 World Mining Congress. The stand displays the Australian Government’s green and gold ‘Nation Brand’, including a kangaroo and decorative elements representing Australia’s rivers and bush tracks.

Team Australia at the 2023 World Mining Congress

We led a whole-of-government presence at the 2023 World Mining Congress in Brisbane, highlighting government support for the resources sector.
Wind turbines in the outback at sunset
Critical Minerals Office

New Critical Minerals Strategy to shape Australia’s clean energy future

The strategy supports the transition to net zero while growing our critical minerals and downstream processing industries.