New projects targeting critical minerals drive growth on the West Coast.
The New Zealand government's Critical Minerals List has launched a new era of mining activity on the West Coast, with significant international players taking notice. Resources Minister Shane Jones says the region is seeing revived interest from explorers and developers following the list's launch last month.
US company Energy Fuels has invested in local firm Westland Mineral Sands (WMS), recognizing its importance in the global supply of rare earth elements. WMS is exploring new acreage near its heavy mineral sand operation, which produces titanium, garnet, zircon, and monazite containing rare earth elements. Another company, TIGA Minerals and Metals Limited, is progressing a mining development at Barrytown targeting the same critical minerals.
The West Coast's gold industry is also experiencing growth, with Rua Gold Limited reporting significant intersections of stibnite on its Reefton permits. Minister Jones says this discovery could be another Macraes-scale deposit, similar to Oceana Gold's Wharekirauponga project and Matakanui Gold's Bendigo-Ophir deposits.
The new mining projects are expected to provide employment opportunities for locals and attract skilled Kiwis and top global expertise to the region. Minister Jones believes this is the beginning of a new mining era, with the future of the sector looking brighter than ever.