The Federal Government has granted the Luni niobium project in Western Australia major project status – reinforcing its significance to drive growth across critical minerals production.
Project owner WA1 Resources said the move reflects Luni’s “national significance and its potential to strengthen Australia’s economy, build sovereign capability in this strategic critical mineral and drive regional growth”.
The Luni project is part of the Sambhar prospect area in the West Arunta region of Western Australia with a strong basis for development studies and potential future operating flexibility thanks to an upgrade in indicated classification for 46 per cent of the site’s contained niobium.
Released earlier this year, the project has a total mineral resource estimate of 220 million tonnes at 1 per cent niobium pentoxide for 2,200 tonnes and 10.3 per cent phosphorous pentoxide for 23,000 tonnes.
Niobium is used in various industries primarily as a high-strength additive to steel and in high-temperature superalloys with around 90 per cent of the mineral used in steel for applications like automotive bodies, pipelines, and construction, where it increases strength and reduces weight.
The remaining 10 per cent is used in superalloys for jet engines and gas turbines, superconducting magnets for MRI scanners, electronic components, glass, and medical implants, according to research.
“WA1 greatly appreciates the award of major project status to the Luni niobium project and thanks Minister Tim Ayres [Federal Industry Minister] and the Australian Federal Government for this recognition,” WA1 Resources managing director Paul Savich said.
“The scale and grade of Luni make it the most important niobium discovery globally in the past 70 years and deserving of its place as a project of national significance.”
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