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or lose. Of course, the advantage in this industry but we continue to make are hopeful that the EPA will pay careful
for nickel metal batteries is that a business case for the supply chain attention to the Government’s policy in
it is an established technology, alongside that Chinese supply chain. this regard because it is obviously better
some of these technologies, new for the EPA’s guidance to line up with
chemistries are going to take our policy so that people can work to
a little while to establish their : How will our rise in production one set of data acquisition.
capacity. End-users are always Q of precursor materials affect our
going to be risk-averse, so the relationship with neighbours
current chemistries are going such as China and Indonesia? : If there was a discovery made
to have the advantage over : This is not just a China story, Q by a junior right now what
new chemistries. However, we A this is about a varied supply efforts could government make
are also supporting the Future chain. Everybody wants to share their to support permitting and
Battery CRC because we want logistical risks and what we are saying approvals. Can they receive
to be at the forefront of the new is that there is reason to do that here major project status to see them
chemistries as they develop. I in WA because the capital costs are all the way through to
don’t know when the price of a actually not that much different and you construction?
particular metal is going to go get other advantages. We have talked : We’d love to have somebody
up or down but you know over to industry and our reference groups A find some more nickel and we’d be
time that the supply will come about having a certification of material very pleased to support a project through
into balance, so you can’t predict coming out of WA. Whatever point it major project or lead agency status.
a price for the future. We are leaves WA, whether it is unprocessed We are very keen to work together on a
trying to say that we want to work ore or cathode active materials is major project. We understand that WA
with investors to get a sensible having certification that it is from WA. has high standards for environmental
outcome for Western Australia Therefore, people know it is ethically and other approvals, which is one
and for the investors. supplied and that way the end-user of our strengths. When we go out to
doesn’t have to audit the supply chain the world, we can say first nations
which is an advantage we have in people are properly dealt with in the
: Will WA introduce green Western Australia. decision-making process, there are high
Q number plates? environmental standards here, the labour
: The Government has an : With a severe lack of new standards are high, health and safety is
A EV working group and Q discoveries, particularly in properly being addressed. These are our
that is coming up with strategies. nickel over the last decade, benefits and when people are marketing
Interestingly, there are a number to the Facebook generation and buying
of reports that suggest most of the what is government doing to EVs in Brazil or wherever, they want to
incentives that you put in place actually support explorers and know these things are done. That is one
go to the Commonwealth and we developers to get up of the advantages we have and why
would appreciate leadership from and running? we are moving towards a certification
Commonwealth in this regard. We met : We get that if you don’t look, you process for any material from the point it
with Mercedes in Germany and they A don’t find and we do understand leaves WA; we have certification that it is
said in three cycles they will no longer the need. We continue to focus on ethically supplied.
be making internal combustion engines, precompetitive data acquisition and that
so that’s 14 years from now. There will is all publicly available and it is one of
be electric cars in Australia because we the reasons we continue to be a global : How will industry look in 25
won’t have a choice. The only caveat to leader for exploration investment and Q years?
that is hydrogen vehicles taking off over why exploration investment is up here : I have been engaged in industry
time as well. in WA. Nova-Bollinger was found from A since 2012 when I was Shadow
precompetitive data and EIS co-funding, Minister and what I can say is what
so if you go out and find a target we’re makes this industry so good is that it
: Are there any positives happy to co-fund a hole. is quick to apply new technologies.
Q to come out of the US’s critical Because this is a high-cost jurisdiction
minerals strategy for WA? it always looks for efficiency. The future
: We work quite closely with Federal : What is the latest on the EPA’s is about technology and applying
A Resources Minister Matt Canavan Q recommendations on emissions? new ideas to solving old problems.
and I have a good relationship with him. : The EPA continues to consult on Everybody knows that wherever a
We met with the US assistant state A their guidance remembering that project is in the world, if you want a
secretary for energy who is responsible in WA it is not the EPA which makes solution to your complex problem come
for their critical minerals strategy and the decision, it is the Government. We to Perth and you will be able to find
we do think there is a real opportunity have published our policy on these someone who can solve it for you. The
for American industry to invest in West matters which we extensively consulted fact that so many West Australians are
Australian mining and processing so with industry and we worked very hard in cold Canada or hot Africa or wherever
that there is this double supply chain. to make sure that industry knew what it is usually an Australian mining
China will continue to be an important we were talking about to make sure engineer or Australian process engineer
offtaker for WA industry. We are very, that we could provide something to solving the problems. I think that is what
very pleased at our close relationship the community that satisfied legitimate the future is; applying our technologies
with China and I expect that we will needs for industry, while setting an and our high skills.
continue to have a strong relationship ambitious aspiration for the State. We
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