Australia’s Federal Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, announced the approval of a Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre at Curtin University. Andrews also said her office will commit A$25 million in funding.
The centre, known by its initials CRC, is a national collaboration between 58 industry, government and research partners, together pitching in additional A$28 million. Companies such as Tianqi Lithium, BHP Nickel West, Cobalt Blue and Pilbara Metals are among the partners.
According to Curtin authorities, the goal is to address existing gaps in the country’s capacity to respond to a predicted growth in the battery industry by creating opportunities in all the areas connected to the sector, from mining and processing to manufacturing and deployment in households, businesses, and communities.
Glencore’s Murrin Murrin nickel-cobalt mine in Western Australia. Photo by Glencore.
“The Future Battery Industries CRC will investigate opportunities for greater efficiencies in the extraction and refinement of battery minerals, including facilitating the steps beyond mining and concentrate production to cathode production and the manufacture and testing of battery components and systems,” Future Chair Tim Shanahan said in a press release. “Given Australia’s abundant resources of battery minerals and world-class resources sector, the potential to promote the nation’s premium-quality, ethically sourced and safe battery minerals and metals through forensic-accredited and traceable sources will also be investigated, paving the way for Australia to position itself as a global leader in the international battery value chain.”
Curtin data show that exports of lithium, just one of Australia’s energy materials, have risen from A$117 million in 2012 to A$780 million in 2017, and are expected to rise to A$1.1 billion by 2020.
Reacting to the announcement, the Minerals Council of Australia issued a statement saying the initiative is crucial for the country’s future.
In the group’s view, growing interest in renewable energy will continue to see higher demand for the minerals that are used in battery manufacturing and this places Australia in a privileged position given the country’s vast deposits of lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements.
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