UK’s Anne-Marie Trevelyan Jets to Australia for Minerals Deal and New Consulate Launch
UK Indo-Pacific Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan touched down in Western Australia on April 2 to seal a crucial minerals pact and open the new British Consulate-General in Perth. The move aims to secure vital supplies of critical minerals that will fuel the global push to net zero.
Critical Minerals Pact to Power Net Zero Revolution
- Anne-Marie Trevelyan will meet Australia’s Resources Minister Madeleine King on April 4 in Perth.
- The pair will sign a joint UK-Australia pledge to boost supply of minerals like lithium—essential for electric vehicle batteries.
- This deal is part of Britain’s wider plan to diversify global supply chains amid rising geopolitical tensions.
“Critical minerals will be a driving force in the world’s journey to net zero,” Trevelyan said. “The UK and Australia are digging deep to futureproof supplies of the materials that power our phones, cars and countless other modern essentials.”
She added, “Australia’s unmatched production, combined with UK’s trading and finance expertise, will protect supply chains from shocks and support thousands of skilled, high-paying jobs.”
Why Australia? Why Now?
The International Energy Agency predicts demand for critical minerals will soar four-fold by 2040, driven by electronics and battery tech. Australia is the world’s top lithium producer, thanks largely to the Greenbushes Mine near Perth, which pumped out 40% of Australia’s lithium last year alone.
The UK’s London Metals Exchange remains the global hub for minerals trading and finance, with the country leading on processing and international deal-making.
Britain and Australia will also team up to enforce strict environmental, social, and governance standards across the critical minerals market.
Touring the Mineral Heartland and Opening the Consulate
As part of her visit, Trevelyan will tour Rio Tinto’s Perth operations and inspect Port Hedland—the world’s biggest bulk export port. She’ll also meet Paul Atherly, Chairman of Alkemy, who’s supplying lithium for a new refining plant planned in Teesside, North-East England.
The visit will culminate in the official launch of the British Consulate-General in Perth, signalling the UK’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic and economic bonds across Australia.
