Premier Mark McGowan and Minister Bill Johnston have launched the Western Australian Future Battery Industry Strategy to grow the State into a world-leading exporter of future battery minerals, materials, technologies and expertise.
The State Government’s Future Battery Industry Strategy for Western Australia
The rapid uptake of electric vehicles and battery-based energy storage systems around the world is driving global demand for lithium-ion batteries. Electric vehicle and battery manufacturers are securing sources of minerals, materials and components to meet this increase in demand representing a significant opportunity for the State.
Western Australia is well placed to seize this opportunity. It has the minerals, the expertise, the standards, the infrastructure and the research capability to become a key player of the global battery value chain. However, it is unlikely that Western Australia will move into further processing, the manufacturing of battery components and the assembly of energy storage systems without leadership from the State Government.
Three of the world’s four largest producers of lithium are looking to develop downstream processing projects in Western Australia. The three companies plan to invest more than $2 billion in the development of these projects, creating more than 1,000 jobs during the construction phase and 800 during the operation phase.
The Western Australian Government has established 12 strategic industrial areas to host downstream processing and other heavy or strategic industrial activities. These areas are located close to key infrastructure and resources and are ready to connect to essential services, such as water and electricity. Environmental and planning frameworks are in place to guide approvals for industrial activities in these areas.
For a copy of the strategy, visit https://www.jtsi.wa.gov.au/fbis
