The Chinese translation is being made; the original is shown for now.
Two Victorian companies will share more than $750,000 in government grants to investigate local antimony processing opportunities, with the studies intended to build a business case for future investment and regional jobs.
Kilmore-based Southern Cross Gold and Ballarat-based Gekko Systems will receive the funding through the state government’s Advancing Antimony Grants program to assess processing options and supply chain development.
The studies will explore opportunities to process antimony from the Costerfield mine in central Victoria, as well as potential new sources in the region.
Southern Cross Gold is exploring and developing its Sunday Creek project, with its grant supporting studies into future antimony processing. Gekko Systems, which supplies minerals processing technology globally, will contribute its expertise to assessing local opportunities.
Antimony is a critical mineral used in solar panel glass, electronics, batteries and defence technologies.
Minerals Council of Australia – Victoria executive director James Sorahan said the announcement of the grants is a crucial first step in securing an antimony processing facility in Victoria.
“Developing homegrown capacity to process our critical minerals adds value, creates jobs and secures our supply chain,” Sorahan said.
“Antimony is one of the Australian government’s top three priority critical minerals.”
The studies will assess how Victoria could scale up an antimony processing industry, supporting the state’s updated Critical Minerals Roadmap and potentially attracting further investment.
The funding is also intended to build on existing production at Costerfield and promising exploration results in central Victoria.
“We’re backing Southern Cross Gold and Gekko Systems to build the case for local antimony processing and bring new investment to regional Victoria,” Victorian energy and resources minister Jaclyn Symes said.
“We want to get more out of the minerals we mine – more skilled jobs, more local industry and more value staying in Victoria.”
Subscribe to Australian Mining and receive the latest news on product announcements, industry developments, commodities and more.