Quad partners United States, Japan, Australia and India have launched a Quad Critical Minerals Initiative to mobilise US$20 billion in public and private finance across mining, processing and recycling to reduce reliance on China-centred supply chains. Projects must show a “Quad nexus” by being located in, operated from, or supplying Quad markets, with support channelled via export credit agencies, development finance institutions, guarantees, loans, equity and offtake agreements. The partners will coordinate on permitting practices, geological mapping, resource assessment and e-waste recovery to tighten technical and regulatory alignment across the supply chain.

Lynas Rare Earths chief executive and managing director Amanda Lacaze has been appointed chair of the Minerals Council of Australia, placing a rare earths producer at the centre of the country’s peak mining lobby. Her appointment comes as the MCA pushes for streamlined project approvals, stable royalty and tax settings, and large-scale investment in processing capacity for critical minerals such as neodymium–praseodymium. For geotechnical and mining engineers, this signals continued policy pressure to accelerate new pit developments and brownfield expansions in hard-rock rare earth and base metal deposits.

The US and India have signed a bilateral critical minerals framework, building on February’s launch of the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE) in Washington, to secure mining and processing supply chains against single-source monopolies and coercive market practices. India, which officially designates 30 critical minerals and holds an estimated 13 million tonnes of monazite, currently produces only copper, graphite, phosphorous and titanium at scale, signalling substantial greenfield and processing opportunities. Parallel Quad and prospective Russia pacts position India as a multi-aligned hub for rare earths and battery-metal projects.