June
Lynas to break China’s heavy rare earths stranglehold
The Amanda Lacaze-led miner will start producing two critical minerals that are essential to the US and its allies from next year.
- Brad Thompson
Niobium fever spreads as Encounter hits paydirt in WA1’s backyard
The West Arunta region is rapidly becoming Australia’s next critical minerals province after Encounter found high-grade niobium close to WA1’s Luni discovery
- Peter Ker
Rare earths hopeful Resouro surges on ASX debut
Shares in the Regal-backed company soared nearly 40 per cent, as investors took advantage of its lower offer price compared to its Canadian listing.
- Alex Gluyas
Rinehart-backed Brazilian Rare Earths launches $66m share placement
The offer was priced at $3.30 a share, a 9.6 per cent discount to the last close but more than double the $1.47 mark at which it listed just six months ago.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
China-linked investor fails in hostile bid for Northern Minerals board
Wu Tao, who was ordered by the federal government to sell stock in Northern Minerals, fell short in his push to gain a seat on the strategic rare earths miner.
- Elouise Fowler
Rare earths miner hacked after Chinese investors ordered out
A ransomware group has posted CEO emails and sensitive commercial data from miner Northern Minerals on the dark web after Chinese investors were ordered to sell.
- Paul Smith, Elouise Fowler and Andrew Tillett
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Chalmers sell-down order adds to crazy tale of rare earths intrigue
Treasury orders forcing Chinese interests to sell shares in Northern Minerals comes as Australia faces hard questions on Chinese involvement in our critical minerals sector.
- James Thomson
May
EU critical minerals deal a boost for ‘green premium’ nickel
A new MoU between Australia and the European Union will smooth the way for investment in resources projects.
- Andrew Tillett
China-linked entity ousts WA rare earths boss
Northern Minerals’ new executive chairman said the resignation of Nick Curtis created an “alignment” between shareholders and the board.
- Elouise Fowler
Lithium giant says China will remain pivotal to local mining projects
Local miners are torn between their dominant customer and investor over two decades, and the lure of subsidies from the US, Australia’s biggest defence ally.
- Elouise Fowler
Inside the most promising critical minerals discovery in years
WA1 Resources has enjoyed a 108-fold increase in share price since floating in 2022 thanks to a discovery near the tiny remote community of Kiwirrkurra in WA.
- Peter Ker
- Opinion
- The AFR View
From euphoria to subsidies to kick-start the next great mining hopes
An Australian mining industry more used to being threatened by super-profit tax raids is being offered handouts to kick-start its way into the low carbon era.
- The AFR View
How the west’s miners won over Canberra
The production tax credits on critical minerals processing unveiled in the federal budget were the result of months of careful negotiations that started with a meeting in Perth.
- Brad Thompson
- Opinion
- Federal budget
It’s right for Australia to join the critical minerals subsidy rush
The scepticism about government interventions is understandable. But this time, they are creating new industries of immense value.
- Warren Pearce
- Updated
- Federal budget
Miners hail tax credits but Coalition to block ‘billions for billionaires’
Australia’s critical minerals industry has hailed $13.7 billion in budget tax credits at the same time as the Coalition has vowed to block the policy claiming it will deliver “billions to billionaires”.
- Brad Thompson
Miners hope for budget tax credits
Lithium and nickel miners who lobbied for tax breaks are set to be among the big budget winners as the Albanese government tries to shore up its ‘made in Australia’ plans.
- Brad Thompson
Iluka boss calls out China’s infiltration of rare earths in Australia
Tom O’Leary says China is trying to extend its global dominance in rare earths by controlling assets in Australia and rigging prices.
- Updated
- Brad Thompson
This BHP old boy thinks copper and rare earths prices will spike
Arafura Rare Earths boss Darryl Cuzzubbo says higher prices are inevitable for two commodities vital to the energy transition.
- Brad Thompson
Brazilian rare earth explorer Axel REE launches IPO roadshow
The deal, led by Bell Potter, will see Axel seek to raise $15 million at an enterprise value of $21.6 million.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
April
Lynas boss leaves door ajar for rare earths mega-merger
Lynas boss Amanda Lacaze says there may be a time when big rare earths makes sense and confirms she is a great admirer of Gina Rinehart and her commitment to mining.
- Brad Thompson
