Stakeholder input sought on Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Activation Fund
A 5-year grants program is being developed to allocate funds directly to projects that assist the development of the critical minerals and high-tech metals sector in NSW.
The NSW Government has announced a $130 million fund to drive investment and support the development of the critical minerals and high-tech metals sector.
The Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Activation Fund will be administered by NSW Mining, Exploration and Geoscience to activate projects across the mining and downstream processing value chain.
Funding will be delivered to:
- unlock project blockages through strategic infrastructure investment
- enhance investment through establishing new capacity in critical minerals processing
- support scale-up and commercialisation of emerging technologies and applications
- drive local skills development
- support investment in exploration to promote new discoveries for an ongoing pipeline of critical minerals and high-tech metal resources
- facilitate the role of critical minerals as an enabler to the clean economy
- contribute to the state outcome of mineral and petroleum industries generating prosperity, safely.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the fund would help deliver key local projects and secure the State’s supply of valuable critical minerals and hi-tech metals for a rapidly expanding global market.
“The critical minerals and high-tech metals sector represents the future of mining, with significant flow-on benefits for other industries and regional communities. This new funding sends a strong message to surveyors, miners, and processors that New South Wales is open for business."
To ensure the fund delivers maximum benefit, consultation with key industry, government and research stakeholders has commenced.
Who can apply?
- Businesses currently undertaking exploration or operations in the critical minerals and high-tech metals sector or supply chain in NSW.
- Universities and research institutes
- Industry associations
- Consortiums may apply when there is a single commercial lead applicant
Eligible applicants are expected to be invited to lodge expressions of interest for the first round of funding later this year.
