The Western Australian (WA) Government, through the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA), and the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
KIGAM is a government-funded geoscience research organisation created in 1918 that is at the forefront of geoscience and technology solutions to current world concerns such as climate change.
Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston observed the signing of the deal while in Korea as part of a McGowan Government trip to promote WA’s capabilities.
“This MoU will enable cooperation on research and exchange of information with our Korean trading partners to build capability and reaffirm the importance of Western Australia in the global supply of critical minerals,” Minister Johnston said.
Minister Johnston stated that transformational change is required in how commodities are discovered, extracted, processed, and converted for use in industrial processes to assist global decarbonisation efforts.
“This cooperation is an important step in developing a strong battery chemical industry in Western Australia, in partnership with the Korean industry,” Minister Johnston added.
The MoU will foster collaboration and offer a framework for sharing scientific and technical expertise throughout the mining value chain, with a particular emphasis on critical minerals.
The MoU improves WA’s partnership with the Republic of Korea after Premier Mark McGowan signed a historic letter of intent on 1 February 2023.
