18 December 2023“The US Congress passed the National Defense...

18 December 2023
“The US Congress passed the National Defense Authorisation Act in a historic moment for our AUKUS partnership.

In an unprecedented step, Australia will be included in the US Defense Production Act’s definition of domestic source.

This means Australian-based businesses will be eligible to receive loans, grants and purchasing contracts direct from the US Government to support priority sectors, such as critical minerals supply chains.” (Minister for Defence Industry)

“The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 directed the secretary of defense to secure critical minerals from ‘reliable sources’ like Australia.” (Carnegie Endowment)

The US Department of Defence has already started awarding grants to support graphite mining projects.

17 July 2023
“The DoD grant to Graphite One follows the designation of graphite as one of the battery materials deemed under the DPA law to be ‘essential to the national defense.’ At present, the U.S. is 100 percent import-dependent for graphite, with China being the world’s leading producer.” (SME)

https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/statements/2023-12-18/us-congress-progresses-aukus

https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2024/02/the-us-military-and-nato-face-serious-risks-of-mineral-shortages?lang=en

https://me.smenet.org/webContent.cfm?webarticleid=4413