Australian Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve

Built World

Operational from second half of 2026

For more than two decades, China has refined nearly every rare earth element that goes into a smartphone, fighter jet, electric motor, or wind turbine. On May 4, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committed up to A$1.3 billion (about US$937 million) to mining and processing projects. These projects aim to give Japan a non-Chinese source for gallium, nickel, graphite, rare earths, and fluorite.

Updated May 31