Commonwealth Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic has officially granted major project status to Chalice Mining’s Gonneville project, located in Western Australia. Situated approximately 70 km northeast of Perth on Chalice-owned land, Gonneville is poised to produce a rare combination of critical and strategic minerals essential for decarbonization and urbanization, including nickel, copper, cobalt, palladium and platinum.
Chalice CEO and Managing Director Alex Dorsch highlighted that Gonneville represents Australia’s first significant discovery of platinum group elements (PGE) and is a crucial component of the nation’s future ambitions in critical minerals.
Currently in the prefeasibility study phase, the project is progressing through regulatory approvals. The designation of major project status enables strategically important projects to receive additional support and streamlined approvals. This status allows the Major Project Facilitation Agency (MPFA) within the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science and Resources to provide case-management assistance, helping Chalice navigate federal approval processes more effectively.
Furthermore, the MPFA will coordinate with the Western Australian Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation to ensure that the support aligns with that offered by the state government.
In September, Western Australian Premier Roger Cook also awarded strategic project status to the Gonneville project. Currently, the global production of palladium, platinum, nickel, and cobalt is largely concentrated in Russia, South Africa, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, making the Gonneville project significant in diversifying these critical mineral sources.
