The Prime Ministers of Australia and Japan elevated critical minerals as a core pillar of their economic security relationship as part of the Australia-Japan Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation, according to a Monday statement.
The countries are committed to strengthening collaboration on investment and diversification of critical mineral supply chains.
The Australian government will provide support of up to AU$1.3 billion through the Critical Minerals Facility and Export Finance Australia, including non-binding letters of support, to critical minerals projects involving Japan. The Japanese government provided around AU$370 million in investments and grants to certain projects.
The key projects identified by the governments include Lynas Rare Earths' (ASX:LYC) project, Tivan's (ASX:TVN) Speewah fluorite project in Western Australia, Ardea Resources' (ASX:ARL) Kalgoorlie nickel project in Western Australia, as well as a project in which Alcoa (ASX:AII) is working with Japan Australia Gallium Associates to develop gallium recovery at one of Alcoa's operating alumina refineries in Western Australia.