The Federal govt. today announced a $840m grant to NT-based ARU, reinforcing the widely proclaimed Western need to be independent of China's control (& China's ban on exports of some processed "Critical Minerals" to the West!) of renewable/decarbonisation minerals (inc. Ni).
Australia, in the last 2 years, has been strongly upgrading its trade & diplomatic ties with Vietnam. Could BSX attract financial support from the Aust. govt. also, for its VERY low CO2 refined Ni materials?abc.com 14.3.24 said"...The Albanese government said the Arafura project was set to become Australia’s first combined rare earths mine and refinery and would help "[secure] Australia’s position as a renewable energy superpower"...The funding package for the project includes $495 million from the Critical Minerals Facility, $200 million through the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF), $115 million from Export Finance Australia’s Commercial Account, and a further $30 million in grants.
The government's backing of the Arafura project comes after a broad collapse in the global prices of critical minerals.
By the end of January, the price of lithium haddroppedmore than 80 per cent within a year.
In February, Ms King said she would putnickelon thecritical minerals list, giving nickel miners access to a$4billion fund, following a weakening of nickel prices (all my emphases).
Ms King said Australia would "need more mining, not less" to meet global climate targets and to "build the solar panels, batteries and wind farms" necessary to reduce emissions".
https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/markets/federal-government-to-invest-840m-in-arafura-rare-earths-project-in-central-australia/ar-BB1jRbXN?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=LCTS&cvid=1f1cde5ebf8a4e43a629b1097c1071cf&e
