The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCI) welcomes today’s release of the State Government’s Future Battery Industry Strategy which backs key recommendations of CCI’s recent WA’s Future in the Lithium Battery Value Chain report.
The report identified that WA has the high-quality minerals, the production capability and the international investment appeal to reap the benefits of the global battery demand boom, but it is vital that we build on our strengths to maximise the benefit to WA.
Western Australian industry has been leading the charge to capitalise on the booming demand for lithium across the globe, which is set to quadruple by 2025 on the back of electric vehicles fast becoming mainstream. This will play a critical role in WA’s economic diversification, job creation and supporting a low carbon world.
To maximise the State’s potential, it is vital that government and industry work together. The Government’s strategy will ensure every player is working from the same play book in this hotly contested global market.
Importantly, the Government has recognised WA’s place in a much wider, complex global value chain, focusing on how the State can capitalise on opportunities in mineral extraction and processing, through to battery chemical and potentially precursor production – a key finding of CCI’s report.
This will establish a solid foundation for industry to move further down the supply chain through its focus on securing and building upon our competitive advantages to attract investment and ensuring the State is investment-ready.
Building on our capability in producing high-quality battery minerals, our position on the global cost curve, installed production infrastructure and established trade relationships will ensure the State continues to attract investment, create jobs and drive prosperity.
CCI supports the Government’s focus on industry facilitation, rather than intervention, as industry is best-placed to identify and invest in projects that create sustainable and lasting jobs.
We also welcome the Government’s focus on research and development, which will help keep the State at the cutting edge and make WA a source of innovation in the global battery supply chain.
CCI’s report is the State’s most comprehensive industry-led research, commissioned and coordinated by CCI, in partnership with our project partners, including the CME, BHP Nickel West, Neometals, Synergy and the City of Kwinana.
It was presented to the State Government’s Lithium and Energy Materials taskforce, which was responsible for developing the Government’s strategy. We look forward to continuing to work with the Government throughout the implementation of its strategy.
