[ferro-alloys.com]A taskforce to investigate how WA can cash in on a “once-in-a-generation” lithium and battery minerals boom will make recommendations to the State Government within six months.

Announcing the taskforce in Maylands in front of two Tesla demonstration Model X electric cars yesterday, Mines Minister Bill Johnston said the downstream processing of lithium and other battery minerals in WA could create thousands of highly skilled, high-paying jobs.

He said the taskforce, consisting of senior government representatives, would engage with companies operating in the sector and take advice from an industry reference group.

It would present a list of recommendations to the State Government in November as to how WA could best capture the lithium-ion battery opportunity.

A strategy would also be developed to position WA as a world leader in new energy materials.

Mr Johnston noted the State Government had already committed $5.5 million to the Minerals Research Institute of WA to secure a Co-operative Research Centre for New Energy Industry in WA.

CRCs are a Federal Government-backed program aimed at linking researchers with industry to generate commercial opportunities.

Lithium and other commodities found in WA such as nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite and copper are key ingredients in the lithium-ion batteries that drive electric cars.

Several companies have already announced plans to process lithium and other minerals into higher-value battery precursor materials such as lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate and nickel sulphate.

Mr Johnston said WA had all the elements to produce lithium-ion batteries, meaning it was in the box seat to capitalise on the growth in the electric vehicle industry.

“We are determined to make the most of the opportunity, and the taskforce will set out a clear plan to establish WA as a world leader in this industry,” he said.

The establishment of the taskforce coincides with the release of a preliminary report by Regional Development Australia, which makes a case for WA becoming a “Lithium Valley” for new energy, similar to the way Silicon Valley in the US is known as the global hub of the tech sector.

It also follows a report by the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies last week, which called on governments to take lead roles in securing WA’s stake in the the new energy revolution.

AMEC chief executive Warren Pearce said WA needed to attract international companies that had the technology to process battery minerals and the taskforce would help ensure there were no regulatory hurdles to slow the industry down.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, the sort WA hasn’t seen since iron ore in the 1960s — today’s announcement is a first step to positioning ourselves to work our way further down the value chain,” he said.

• [Editor:王可]