Funding Boost to Expand Manufacturing and Jobs in Victoria’s Critical Minerals Sector

Why It Matters

Local antimony processing could secure a strategic supply chain, create hundreds of jobs and keep more mineral value within Victoria’s economy.

Key Takeaways

• $1 million in Advancing Antimony Grants available to businesses and researchers.
• Victoria holds Australia’s largest antimony deposits and sole operating mine.
• Local processing could double employment in mining and manufacturing sectors.
• Grants aim to attract investment and develop a modern antimony facility.
• Applications close 23 June; webinar scheduled for May.

Pulse Analysis

Antimony, a critical mineral used in electronics, batteries and fire‑safe materials, is seeing rising global demand as clean‑energy technologies expand. While Australia ranks among the world’s top producers, most of its antimony is exported in raw form, leaving downstream value overseas. Victoria’s unique position—hosting the country’s only operating antimony mine at Costerfield and the largest known deposits—offers a rare opportunity to develop a full‑stack supply chain within a single jurisdiction, reducing reliance on foreign processors and enhancing national security.

The state’s $1 million grant scheme targets early‑stage feasibility studies, university collaborations and pilot projects that could lay the groundwork for a modern processing plant. By incentivising local research, the program aligns with Victoria’s Critical Minerals Roadmap, which seeks to transform raw resource extraction into high‑value manufacturing. Officials project that establishing domestic antimony refining could double employment across mining, engineering and ancillary services, delivering both immediate job growth and long‑term industrial capability. The funding also signals confidence to private investors, potentially unlocking further capital for infrastructure and technology development.

If successful, Victoria could become a regional hub for antimony‑based components, feeding supply chains for electric‑vehicle batteries, semiconductor manufacturing and fire‑resistant materials. This would not only diversify the state’s economic base but also provide Australian manufacturers with a reliable, locally sourced input, mitigating geopolitical risks associated with overseas processing. However, challenges remain, including securing sufficient investment, meeting environmental standards and ensuring a skilled workforce. Continued government support, coupled with industry partnerships, will be crucial to turning the grant‑driven research into a commercially viable processing facility that delivers sustained economic benefits.