The Victorian Government will soon call for proposals from industry, universities, and researchers to explore the viability of an antimony mining facility in regional Victoria.
Minister for energy and resources Lily D’Ambrosio said building an antimony processing industry here in Victoria means more secure, high‑quality jobs for regional communities.
“Victoria is ready to seize the opportunity of antimony processing, strengthening our local manufacturing industry and giving Victoria a strategic edge in global supply chains,” she said.
Victoria has Australia’s largest antimony deposits and the nation’s only operating mine at Costerfield. The state currently employs 278 people in antimony mining, and the State Government claims the number of jobs will double if materials are processed locally.
The Advancing Antimony Grants program will be open for applications in April and offers a share of $1 million for proposals to get a Victorian antimony processing industry off the ground.
The expansion of the industry is part of the Critical Minerals Roadmap which is aims to drive development of the state’s mineral resources and jobs. It follows the approval of exploration works at Southern Cross Gold’s Sunday Creek Project near Kilmore last year.
Minister for industry and advanced manufacturing Colin Brooks said processing minerals locally will provide a great number of opportunities.
“Processing antimony in Victoria strengthens our local manufacturing and keeps more value onshore while creating new jobs, regional growth, and more downstream processing capability,” Brooks said.
Antimony is a heat-resistant critical mineral in high demand worldwide. It’s essential for flame‑retardant materials, electronics, batteries and defence technologies. It is mined underground, with a small above ground footprint, making it an efficient way to extract minerals and minimise waste.
