Australia and France have signed a Bilateral Dialogue on Critical Minerals agreement to strengthen cooperation on critical mineral supply chains.
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King signed the agreement in Paris with France’s Minister for the Energy Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher.
Under the agreement, France and Australia will collaborate on a joint study of critical mineral supply chains to identify the specific needs of both countries in relation to batteries and rare earth magnets, which are required for clean energy technology as well as high-tech medical and defence applications.
Minister King stated that the collaborative study will also consider what the Australian and France governments can do to overcome barriers to ensuring reliable supply chains for critical minerals.
“Australia has abundant reserves of critical minerals and our Critical Minerals Strategy sets out the pathway for Australia to diversify global supply chains and beyond a globally significant supplier by 2030,” Minister King said.
“Australia also has a reputation as a reliable export partner, has strong environmental and social standards and corporate governance frameworks, and is an attractive place for foreign investment, particularly in the resources sector,” Minister King added.
The collaborative study is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
