This Month
- Analysis
- Critical minerals
Taxpayers have just made a $1.65b bet on a rare earths green premium
It’s the recipient of the second-biggest government loan in history. For the Eneabba project to succeed, everything about how minerals are priced must change.
- Peter Ker
- Updated
- Critical minerals
Iluka lands $400m taxpayer loan to get rare earth refinery on track
But investors are worried that the cost of the Eneabba project in Western Australia will make it hard for the company to make a return once it is operational.
- Updated
- Peter Ker and Tom Rabe
November
Northern Minerals narrowly fends off mystery board appointment
The miner has avoided a relatively unknown director being elected, just weeks after Treasury flagged it could put new shareholders under the microscope over suspected links to China.
- Tom Rabe
Forrest hands Hastings a reprieve after chairman capitulates on debt
The billionaire’s private Wyloo Metals business has agreed to withdraw a default notice that would have pushed the rare earths explorer into insolvency.
- Peter Ker
Forrest’s Wyloo declares solvency concerns over Hastings rare earths
Andrew Forrest’s Wyloo Metals has challenged directors of rare earths aspirant Hastings to explain how their debt-laden company remains solvent.
- Peter Ker
Forrest debt feud threatens future of rare earths hopeful Hastings
The West Australian developer took a loan from its chairman, angering its biggest financier, the billionaire businessman’s private mining vehicle.
- Peter Ker
Titanium play IperionX grabs fundie attention
The critical minerals darling has popped up in the portfolios of small-cap managers Regal, Pengana and Terra Capital.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
October
Lynas Rare Earths cuts production as prices languish
Lynas Rare Earths has posted lower quarterly revenue and cut production as demand for electric vehicles slows.
- Mark Wembridge
Rare earths hopeful Astron Corp launches cash call
The equity raise comes after Astron tasked ICA Partners to secure debt for its Donald project, which will require $450 million to $490 million in capital expenditure.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
September
Listed manufacturing player Amaero upsizes raise
The company’s initial ask was for $20 million, but it received bids for nearly $45 million, sources said.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Want to do business in Asia? Beware your unconscious bias: Lynas boss
Amanda Lacaze, the managing director of Lynas Rare Earths, narrates how she set aside a full day for cultural awareness during her trip to Malaysia.
- Jessica Sier and Andrew Tillett
Mystery investor raises questions about Northern Minerals divestment
Labor forced the miner’s largest investor, a China-linked fund, to sell its shares. A Hong Kong-registered firm with almost no corporate history bought up.
- Brad Thompson
US and Australia ink critical minerals funding pact
The cooperation bolsters a push that Washington and Canberra have already unleashed to create non-Chinese supply chains in minerals needed for decarbonisation and defence.
- Elouise Fowler
August
Pengana tips this tiddler to grow into a ‘multibillion-dollar’ stock
Portfolio manager Jeremy Bendeich explains why he’s betting big on titanium, and explains the potential behind Brazilian Rare Earths.
- Updated
- Joanne Tran
Iluka to halt rare earths refinery unless Labor caves in on funding
Iluka Resources says it won’t finish building a strategically important rare earths refinery unless the Albanese government comes up with more funding,
- Brad Thompson
Gold saves the day as Diggers deals with the nickel and lithium rout
The annual Kalgoorlie conference was abuzz with the hopes and dreams of nickel and critical minerals groups – last year. How different things are now.
- Brad Thompson
Rare earths explorer St George buys Brazilian project; raise underway
Potential investors were told the project sits in the same complex as the Brazilian giant CBMM’s assets, which control 80 per cent of the world’s niobium mineralisation.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Lynas boss Lacaze sees merit in nuclear power option
Lynas Rare Earths boss Amanda Lacaze says Australia needs to be energy-supply agnostic if it is realistic about becoming a critical minerals superpower.
- Brad Thompson
July
Chinese rare earths giant looks to set up in Australia
Shenghe wants to expand into Australia despite strong government opposition to Chinese investment.
- Updated
- Brad Thompson
Rare earths player Meteoric Resources launches raise; four banks hired
Barrenjoey, Canaccord Genuity and SCP Resource Finance were mandated as the joint lead managers, while Euroz Hartleys had a co-manager role.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
