An official study was launched today into the viability of a shared State/Federal facility expected to cost $200M if approved; https://www.mriwa.wa.gov.au/mineral...als-advanced-processing-common-user-facility/
05/12/25 ;“The CMAP will focus on upstream (recycling of mining waste and tailings)
and midstream (minerals processing activities, high purity metal refining and advanced material manufacturing) activities, with the aim of providing common use pilot plant equipment to support the growth and diversification of Western Australia’s resources and related industries and creating a critical mass in research and training.
It will also provide space, capital equipment and knowledge/personnel required to stimulate a pipeline of new entrants into the midstream critical mineral processing industry and build capacity in Western Australia.
Maybe relevant to Tendinewa? And or to the grant of 16/03/22 of which AVL is still holding funds (ie partial funds to go towards accessing nearby company Bryah’s mining waste ponds to see if critical minerals can be extracted from the tailings
[ref])
WA and Fed governments link up to study viability of common-user critical minerals facility
Adrian RausoThe West Australian
Tue, 4 February 2025 3:56PM
Federal Minister for Resources Madeleine King and WA Mines Minister David Michael on Tuesday jointly announced the investment.Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West Australian
The State and Federal Governments will spend $3 million looking into building a shared pilot plant for downstream producers of critical minerals.
Federal Minister for Resources Madeleine King and WA Mines Minister David Michael on Tuesday jointly announced the investment to “support a feasibility study for a common user critical minerals advanced processing facility (CMAP) in WA”.
The feasibility study will be led by the Minerals Resources Institute of Western Australia and is part of a $10.2m critical minerals national productivity initiative.
“The CMAP facility will be home to pilot plant equipment for small and medium sized businesses to undertake downstream processing of critical minerals and strategic materials at demonstration scale,” Minister King said.
“Common user facilities are an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to scaling up our capacity to process our mineral resources here onshore — while securing more of the value chain.
“By equipping local businesses with the tools to process what they dig up, we’ll not only be helping them collaborate and grow — but also enhancing our economic resilience and further strengthening Australia’s sovereign capability.”
Mr Michael said the study will help position Australia as an important player in the global battery and critical minerals sector.
“The Cook Government aims to capture more value onshore, with a particular focus on expanding our advanced processing capabilities and or ‘midstream’ industries,” he said.
“To achieve these ambitions, a CMAP facility capable of demonstrating critical minerals processing to a more advanced value-added stage, will lead to the development of greater onshore processing and manufacturing opportunities, over the next 10 to 20 years.
“The Cook Government is committed to delivering Western Australia’s Battery and Critical Minerals Strategy 2024-2030 and welcomes the Federal Government’s support to deliver this vision which will benefit the nation.”
The announcement comes a day after The West Australian revealed WA’s largest downstream critical minerals processing segment — lithium hydroxide production — is at imminent risk of being hamstrung by Chinese trade restrictions.
(20min delay)