With the release of an updated Battery and Critical Minerals Profile in October 2025, provided by the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification (DEED), WA has made its ambition to move up the value chain to become a strategic hub for battery mineral processing and advanced manufacturing clear. Viewed as a positive move for the state, it’s a strong signal that WA is no longer content with being just a global supplier of raw minerals.
This ambition aligns with Australia’s newly signed agreement with the United States to strengthen cooperation on critical minerals. Announced in mid-October by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Donald Trump, the deal establishes a framework for joint investment and manufacturing across the battery supply chain.
On announcing the agreement, Prime Minister Albanese said, “Australia is home to much of the periodic table of critical minerals and rare earth metals that are vital for defence and other advanced technologies. We’ve agreed today Australia and America are going to make more things together with our historic framework on critical minerals.”
The deal positions Australia, including WA, as a strategic partner in delivering ethically sourced minerals to allied nations, reducing their reliance on China and enhancing global supply chain resilience.
Meanwhile, the Battery and Critical Minerals Profile outlines WA’s dominant position in the global supply of lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earths, all of which are essential to clean energy technologies. It also signals a shift in focus, from exporting unprocessed ores to capturing greater economic value through local refining, chemical conversion and battery component production.
Premier Roger Cook said, “Critical minerals are the centrepiece of WA’s economic diversification story."
“The success of this strategy will mean a more prosperous and resilient economy, more value shared with our regional and Aboriginal communities and, for other countries, greater access to the minerals and materials needed to decarbonise and grow.”
According to the Office of the Chief Economist, DEED, global lithium demand is forecast to grow by 51% by 2027, while cobalt demand is expected to rise by 33% by 2028. These figures reflect the rapid acceleration of electric vehicle adoption and grid-scale energy storage, both of which rely heavily on critical minerals.
To support this strategic shift, the state is investing in streamlined approvals, common user infrastructure and financial support for strategically important projects. These measures are designed to attract long-term investment and enable WA to compete, not just on resource abundance, but also on processing capability and supply chain reliability.
The strategy also positions WA as a low-risk jurisdiction for international partners seeking secure and ethical sources of critical minerals. With geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions affecting global markets, WA offers a stable alternative. The agreement between the US and Australia, only further strengthens the state's position as an alternative to China in ensuring a reliable supply chain for these essential minerals.
As global demand continues to surge, WA’s pivot from extraction to processing is strategic. By investing in downstream capabilities and aligning with global decarbonisation goals, the state is positioning itself not just as a supplier, but as a leader of the clean energy future.