Critical minerals are having a moment.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is at the White House to talk up Australia’s rich deposits with President Donald Trump.

China, which has a global stranglehold on rare earth elements, recently imposed new export restrictions, much to Trump’s annoyance.

It’s clear there’s an era of global competition underway. Critical minerals are essential for manufacturing advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles and renewables. And governments everywhere are racing to secure a future supply.

Australia holds vast reserves of lithium, rare earths, cobalt and tungsten. This presents both a golden opportunity and a looming challenge.

What, exactly, are critical minerals? And what advantages might they offer to Australia?

What

See Full Page