Germany is looking to strengthen its cooperation with Australia on the supply and development of critical raw materials, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Thursday during an official visit to Canberra.
Following talks with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Wadephul described Australia as a key partner for Germany in diversifying global supply chains. He highlighted the strategic importance of minerals extracted in Australia, particularly lithium, and said Berlin is keen to expand collaboration in the raw materials sector.
Australia hosts some of the world’s most significant mineral resources, including the largest hard-rock lithium mine, located near the town of Greenbushes south of Perth. The site spans more than 2000 hectares and is responsible for roughly 20% of global lithium production. Lithium is a crucial component in lithium-ion batteries used in consumer electronics and electric vehicles.
In addition to lithium, Australia holds substantial reserves of rare earth elements such as neodymium and terbium, which are essential for manufacturing permanent magnets used in electric motors and other advanced technologies.
Wadephul acknowledged that closer cooperation in developing and exploiting mineral resources would require significant financial investment. He noted that extraction and processing of critical raw materials can be costly, but emphasised that Germany’s economy is particularly reliant on secure access to these resources.
