WA Government extends support for lithium industry

The WA Government has announced the allocation of $30 million to expand a fee waiver initiative to support two strategically important lithium hydroxide producers in Western Australia. The funding extends the Lithium Industry Support Program announced in November 2024.

The extended initiative will offer a waiver on government fees and charges for Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia and Covalent Lithium until 31 December 2027. The original initiative had been due to expire at the end of this year.

The government says the extension of the fee waiver supports the state’s strategically important lithium hydroxide processing facilities amid an ongoing period of volatile pricing for the commodity and environment of rising operating costs.

The WA Government will also commit $5 million in funding to facilitate the development of standards for the reuse of lithium by-product in construction materials, reducing disposal costs.

This support follows the announcement earlier this month of a $15 million allocation for interest-free loans to help Western Australia’s nickel miners still in operation and support the potential restart of idled mines and ramp-up of new projects.

“Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia and Covalent Lithium have a vitally important role to play in critical minerals processing in WA and are a key component of the EV battery supply chain,” said Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael. “The Cook Labor government believes it is crucial to support these two strategically important businesses while they battle with volatile commodity prices amid a period of rising costs; that’s why we decided to extend the crucial fee waiver initiative.”

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