Joint media release with the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King. 

New critical minerals facilities in Sydney will support the push to refine more minerals in Australia that are essential for renewable energy technology and defence applications.

Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King opened the new facilities at Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) at Lucas Heights, bringing together world-first science and innovation across government to build Australia’s critical minerals industry.

The facilities will help process clay-hosted rare earth deposits, while a new high temperature chlorination facility will produce high-purity quartz which is a crucial input for semiconductors, solar panels, telecommunications, medical and defence equipment.

Minister King said the Albanese Government was determined to diversify global supply chains for critical minerals and rare earths that are crucial for national and economic security for Australia and our trading partners.

“Australia is meeting its responsibility to step up and lead on critical minerals and rare earths globally,” Minister King said.

“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.”

Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres said this is a significant step forward for the industry, noting that while Australia has a huge endowment of critical minerals, the real economic and strategic dividend comes from refining and adding value here at home.

“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,” Minister Ayres said.

“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.

“That’s how we create good jobs, stronger industries, and the resilient supply chains Australia needs for the future.”

The expansion of ANSTO’s rare earth processing capabilities has been supported by the Australian Critical Minerals R&D Hub.

The Hub brings together expertise from ANSTO, Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, and Geoscience Australia to address technical challenges and deliver practical solutions aligned with the Australian Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy.