A new prospectus puts the spotlight on Western Australia’s critical minerals sector, featuring key projects and government initiatives to highlight the State’s abundant mineral endowment and attract investment.
Western Australia Critical Minerals Prospectus 2026 provides investors, financiers, buyers and strategic partners a clearer view of WA’s critical minerals pipeline.
Published by the Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration (DMPE), the prospectus also provides direct proponent contacts to help progress investment, offtake and partnership discussions.
The publication highlights selected areas for investment and collaboration, spanning projects from pre-feasibility through to advanced development and midstream processing.
Profiles of 47 developing projects cover lithium, rare earths, nickel, cobalt, graphite, manganese, niobium and other commodities.
Highlights include the 220 million tonne Luni Niobium Project and the 8.16 billion tonne Pitfield titanium dioxide resource. Their development could broaden WA’s resources base while creating pathways for new investment, processing and value-adding industries.
DMPE Director General Chris Shaw said the prospectus forms part of the WA Government’s work to encourage investment and mineral discovery.
“Pre-competitive geoscience data, the Exploration Incentive Scheme and an established resources services ecosystem help create the conditions for projects to progress,” Mr Shaw said.
“As part of DMPE, the Geological Survey of Western Australia remains focused on advancing critical mineral exploration across regional and remote areas, recognising its significant contribution to the prosperity of our State and the nation.
“Critical minerals are at the core of WA’s economic diversification strategy and are the foundation of emerging industries.”
In 2025, the State’s resources sector recorded $226 billion in sales, with the mining sector contributing $182 billion. The mining sector also supported more than 140,000 on-site mining and mineral exploration jobs.
Mineral exploration expenditure reached a record $2.7 billion in 2025.
The WA Government invests $18.5 million annually through the Exploration Incentive Scheme, including co-funded drilling, geophysics and pre-competitive geoscience.
DMPE’s prospectus builds on the WA Government’s broader efforts to promote the State’s critical minerals and energy industries to international investors.
At the recent Global Citizen NOW conference in Perth, the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification promoted WA’s critical minerals and energy strengths, with Premier Roger Cook launching the Western Australian Investment Prospectus.
Western Australia Critical Minerals Prospectus 2026 is available online https://www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/strategic-and-critical-minerals-projects
