Western Australia’s Governor Kim Beazley AC has put critical minerals firmly on the State’s development agenda hosting a select roundtable for industry leaders, including International Graphite’s Executive Chairman Phil Hearse.
The Governor, whose distinguised political and academic career includes a strong focus on defence and international relations, is a passionate and vocal advocate for the critical role that minerals and energy play in generating and securing economic growth and the opportunities they offer Australia as a respected and world-leading resource province.
Graphite is recognised as acritical mineral by governments in Australia, Europe and the United States, given its importance to energy transition and high supply risk technologies. The roundtable discussion centred on Western Australia’s critical mineral capacities and how the State can help secure vital supply chains.
International Graphite is set to be Western Australia’s first fully integrated mine-to-market graphite company, offering all the advantages Australia brings to the global graphite supply chain and helping build Australia’s sovereign capability in critical commodities.
“Australia has so much more to offer the world than simply crushing and shipping rocks.”
“Rich in critical minerals, combined with our enormous technological know-how and innovative culture has set us up as world leaders in the manufacturing of certain minerals,” Mr Beazley said.
Leading West Australian mining and manufacturing companies were invited to provide their expertise, with Mr Hearse speaking to the global picture for graphite now and strong growth projections into the future.
“This significant event highlights the value of Australia as a key source of processed strategic commodities for our nation and our close allies. The demand for graphite products, that Western Australia can supply, is pivotal to securing an independent source for future fixed and mobile energy storage and breaking edge technologies,’’ Mr Hearse said.
Other roundtable participants included WA Minister for Mines and Energy Bill Johnston, the Australasian Supply Chain Institute, Chamber of Minerals and Energy, CSIRO, Government policy-makers, and representatives from the US and British Consulates.