By Melanie Burton

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Australia is formulating a plan for its critical minerals reserve that will focus on sales of future production, limiting the need for a physical stockpile, industry sources said, as Australian and U.S. leaders prepare to meet next week.

Australia’s critical minerals task force hosted a call last week with miners and project developers across a range of metals as it steps up industry consultations, according to four sources familiar with the matter.

The task force is seeking by the end of the year to have finalised its policy recommendations for the structure of a A$1.2 billion ($782 million) stockpile of minerals that it believes is vulnerable to supply disruption. The stockpile, which is expected to focus on rare earths, is expected to be ready b

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