Particle.news
Download on the App Store

EU Moves to Take Stakes in Australian Critical Minerals Projects

Brussels aims to secure lithium and rare earth supplies by backing selected Australian mines.

Overview

  • Sefcovic said the EU has completed an initial selection of Australian projects and that the list will be published very soon.
  • The bloc is weighing equity investments, long-term off-take agreements and joint ventures to lock in supply.
  • Potential financing sources include the European Investment Bank, national development banks and industrial firms offering prepayments.
  • The trade chief discussed specific projects with Australia’s Resources Minister Madeleine King during meetings in Melbourne.
  • The push follows supply shocks and Chinese export curbs, and EU–Australia trade talks are expected to resume early next year after a 2023 collapse over agricultural access.