Allies in the Earth: Australia and Japan’s Mineral Pact

A$20 million deal cements Australia–Japan partnership in rare earths and clean tech minerals

14 Oct 2025

Australia and Japan are strengthening their partnership in the global drive to secure key materials for clean energy and advanced manufacturing. A new agreement between Australia’s RZ Resources and Japan’s JX Advanced Metals, announced on June 9, 2025, is set to reshape supply chains for rare earths and other critical minerals.

Under the deal, JX Advanced Metals will invest about A$20mn for a 5 per cent stake in RZ Resources’ Copi Project in western New South Wales. The Japanese group also has options for two additional A$5mn contributions through convertible funding. The project’s mineral sands are rich in rare earths, zircon and titanium, materials essential for electric vehicles, batteries and semiconductors.

Analysts say the partnership underscores a shift towards cooperation in securing global resource access. “This partnership reflects a new model for resource security, shared investment for shared resilience,” said Karen Liu, energy analyst at Global Metals Insight.

For RZ Resources, the collaboration brings fresh capital, technical expertise and access to JX’s refining and processing capabilities. It also offers pathways to expand into Asian markets. For JX Advanced Metals, the deal diversifies supply sources for materials crucial to electronics and clean technologies, reinforcing Japan’s industrial resilience.

The partnership supports Australia’s broader strategy to move up the value chain from exporter of raw minerals to a centre for processing and advanced manufacturing. Government officials described the project as an example of sustainable and strategically aligned development.

While commodity price volatility and regulatory hurdles remain potential challenges, industry observers view the agreement as a significant milestone. By combining Australia’s resource capacity with Japan’s technological strength, the two nations aim to secure a more stable and sustainable global supply of critical minerals vital to the clean energy transition.