The development of lithium hydroxide facilities is a priority for Australia's renewed critical mineral strategy, Jessica Robinson, head of the government's Critical Minerals Facilitation Office, said.
"We are already the largest producer of lithium and we have the second-largest reserves in the world... Now we are looking to move further down the supply chain," Robinson said during Fastmarkets' virtual Lithium Supply & Markets conference on Monday October 26.
"The key area in which we are looking to invest further is the development of hydroxide facilities," she added.
The country produces about half of the world's lithium from hard rock lithium concentrate, called spodumene, which is converted into lithium hydroxide for battery manufacturers and is processed mostly in China.
The Australian government is looking to attract investment along the supply chain for the critical minerals sector, not only in exploration and extraction but also in the production and processing stages.
On October...