Investing in critical minerals in Australia

The government encourages foreign investment in Australia’s critical minerals. Australia has many of the elements the world needs to make advanced technology like smartphones, computers, solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles. We’re already a world-leading resource exporter and supply many countries with high quality, ethically sourced minerals using environmentally sustainable practices.

Australia’s critical minerals

Australia has significant critical mineral resources and potential compared to other countries:

• Australia has the world’s largest resources of rutile (titanium), zircon (zirconium) and tantalum.
• Australia’s resources of critical minerals like antimony, cobalt, lithium, manganese ore, niobium, tungsten and vanadium, rank in the top 5 globally.
• Australia is the world’s top producer of lithium, rutile and the second largest producer of zircon and rare earth elements.
• Australia has potential for more undiscovered minerals. Well-established mining regions cover just 20% of Australia. The remaining 80% is largely under-explored.

Read about Australia’s critical minerals potential:

• market opportunities for lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements
• outlook for niobium, rare earths, cobalt, antimony, magnesium and tungsten in Australia

See Geoscience Australia’s:

• information on critical minerals
• precompetitive data
• map of potential resources

What Australia has to offer investors

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

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

See current investment opportunities and the Australian Critical Minerals Prospectus on Austrade’s website.

Find government information for mining investors

These government agencies and resources help investors find opportunities and navigate approval requirements to invest in Australia:

• The Critical Minerals Facilitation Office connects Australian critical minerals projects to investors and strategic partners to advance projects and provide midstream and downstream opportunities.
• Austrade helps international companies establish and build their business in Australia.
• The Foreign Investment Review Board provides Information on foreign investment approval requirements for investing in Australia.
• Australia’s Energy and Mineral Resources Investor Guide 2020 by Geoscience Australia includes guidelines for foreign investment, business entry into Australia, indigenous engagement and sustainable development.
• Australia Minerals provides information, expertise and support for mineral explorers and investors.
• The Major Projects Facilitation Agency helps projects (with capital expenditure of AU$20 million and over) navigate Commonwealth Government regulatory approvals. They can also provide information on the best onshore minerals regulation contacts in your state or territory.

Read more

• See more information to support critical minerals projects in Australia
• Read Australia’s Critical Minerals Strategy

Connect with us

• Follow us on Twitter @ResourcesGovAu

Contact us

• Email criticalminerals@industry.gov.au
• Post to Critical Minerals Facilitation Office, GPO Box 2013, CANBERRA ACT 2601