Up to $30 million grants for critical minerals projects

Written By Anne Furey

Eligible applicants can apply for grants between $1 million and $30 million for projects relating to production and/or processing of critical minerals listed in Australia’s Critical Minerals Strategy.

Applicants must contribute at least 50% of eligible project expenditure, of which a maximum of 10% of the co-contribution may be in-kind, which can come from the lead applicant of project partners.

Eligible projects include those which involve post-exploration activities and prior to final investment decision.

The funding will support:

  • reducing the risk associated with critical development activities

  • global transition to net-zero emissions b 20250 through the development of Australia’s critical mineral resources

  • economic development and jobs in regional commiunities

  • workplace gender equality and opportunities for First Nations people

  • long term sustainable growth of the Australian critical minerals sector

Eligible applicants must:

  • have an Australian business number (ABN)

  • have an Australian company number (ACN)

  • be registered for GST

Eligible entities include:

  • Incorporated Australian entities, including incorporated trustees on behalf of a trust, where trading activities:

    • form a sufficiently significant proportion of the corporations overall activities as to merit being described as a tradition corporation; or

    • are a substantial and note merely peripheral activity of the corporation

  • Australian State/Territory Government agency or body which has an ABN

Eligible projects must be completed by 31 March 2025 and may include:

  • business cases, feasibility studies, technical assessments, flowsheet design, engineering and technical work for early stage projects

  • pilot and/or demonstration projects and FEED studies for mid-stage projects

  • commercialisation of technology and IP that benefits the sector

  • integrating critical mineral processing technologies that supper net-zero emissions by 2050

  • development of downstream manufacturing capability

Applications must be submitted by 5pm (AEDT) Monday 20 February 2023.

For more information and to access the guidelines and online application portal click here.

Anne Furey