Ann: Thick Intersections of Lithium Pegmatite at Manindi, page-722

Apologies. I didn't realise the link doesn't work. Here's the text from another article, which covers the same story:

The US Government has committed tohelp fund Australian critical minerals projects through its export financingarms against a backdrop of continued Russian sanctions and China’s supply chaindominance.

The agreement comes as US PresidentJoe Biden prepares to enact wartime powers to boost the domestic supply ofminerals crucial for the manufacture of defence equipment and electricvehicles.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine hashighlighted the world’s heavy reliance on Russian oil and gas suppliers and hastriggered a severe energy crisis.

Australia and the US have worked onmeasures designed to impose significant economic costs to Russia, includingdepriving the regime of access to critical technologies and materials, capital,and the ability to conduct business around the world.

Advanced measures have included anAustralian ban on exports of alumina to Russia and other strategies to ensurethe country faces appropriate economic consequences in response to theinvasion.

Minerals under the microscope

Critical minerals such as nickel andzinc – which are central to energy, defence, electronics and other vitalindustries – have now come under the microscope as the Biden administrationtries to reduce its dependence on overseas supplies.

Australian trade minister Dan Tehansaid the US had agreed to help finance Australian projects to speed updelivering much-needed critical minerals for the technology that goes intodefence equipment, batteries, smartphones, electric vehicles and othertechnologies.

“As China produces almost 80% ofglobal critical minerals, western nations including Australia and the US arescrambling to develop alternative supplies,” he said.

“The coming energy transition willdepend in large part on securing a resilient and diversified supply of criticalminerals for use in everything from electric vehicle chargers and batteries tosolar panels, wind turbines, and semiconductors.”

Mr Tehan made the trip to Washingtonto table the issues with US secretary of commerce Gina Raimondo.

He was accompanied by the heads ofAustralian critical minerals companies IlukaResources (ASX: ILU), AustralianStrategic Materials (ASX: ASM), CobaltBlue Holdings (ASX: COB), LynasRare Earths (ASX: LYC), RZ Resources and VHM, which are all vying for cheap finance to fast-track their projects.

Supply chain financing

An executive-level round table oncritical minerals this week highlighted the commercial potential for Australianand US industry and underscored the need to strengthen capability across allparts of the supply chain, including extraction and downstream processing.

It discussed opportunities to bridgemarket gaps and enhance the resilience of critical minerals supply chains.

Australia and the US agreed toexamine how their respective financing mechanisms could be better coordinatedand leveraged to support private investment in supply chains.