The Federal Government has pledged up to $840 million in loans and grants for a combined rare earths mine and refinery facility north of Alice Springs to be run by mineral exploration company Arafura, which the Federal Resources Minister said was “not corporate welfare” but rather an investment to create local jobs and “compete on the world stage” in rare earths.

The rare earths mine and refinery, billed as the “first of its kind in Australia” will be located 125 km north of Alice Springs at the site of the company’s Nolans Project. Arafura estimates that more than 200 jobs will be created during construction, with 125 full-time ongoing jobs, including positions for Indigenous people.

Subscribe or Log in to read the rest of this content.