Ardea Resources' Goongarrie Hub Named in Australia-Japan Critical Minerals Pact

• The Kalgoorlie Nickel Project's Goongarrie Hub is one of six projects featured in the Australia-Japan Joint Statement on Elevated Critical Minerals Cooperation, announced by the Prime Ministers of both nations.
• The joint statement recognises the project's role in supporting resilient, secure, and diversified critical minerals supply chains, with the Government of Japan providing funding support through its economic security grant programme.
• The project is developed as a joint venture between Ardea, Sumitomo Metal Mining, and Mitsubishi Corporation through a dedicated entity, Kalgoorlie Nickel Pty Ltd.
• Government support to date includes non-binding financing indications from Export Finance Australia and the U.S. Export-Import Bank, Major Project Status, and acceptance into Australia's federal Investor Front Door pilot programme.
• The Kalgoorlie Nickel Project holds Australia's largest nickel-cobalt resource at 854 million tonnes, containing 6.1 million tonnes of nickel and 386,000 tonnes of cobalt across the full project area.

Ardea Resources (ASX: ARL) is a Western Australian-based nickel development company advancing the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project in the Eastern Goldfields through a joint venture with Sumitomo Metal Mining and Mitsubishi Corporation, targeting a multi-decade production operation of over 30,000 tonnes of nickel per year. The project's two primary areas, the Goongarrie Hub and the 100% Ardea-owned Kalpini Hub, together host 854 million tonnes at 0.71% nickel and 0.045% cobalt, for 6.1 million tonnes of contained nickel and 386,000 tonnes of contained cobalt, the largest nickel-cobalt resource in Australia and one of the largest in the developed world. Ardea also conducts advanced-stage exploration for nickel sulphides, scandium, and rare earth elements across the broader project area.

KNP-Goongarrie Hub Inclusion in the Australia-Japan Joint Statement on Critical Minerals Cooperation

Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi visited Australia to meet Prime Minister Albanese, with the Australia-Japan Joint Statement on Elevated Critical Minerals Cooperation as a key outcome. The statement identifies six projects of bilateral interest, with the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project's Goongarrie Hub named as one of them. The inclusion recognises the project as a strategically important Australia-Japan collaboration supporting resilient, secure, and diversified critical minerals supply chains.

The joint statement specifically references the Government of Japan's funding support through its economic security grant programme and notes non-binding financing indications from Export Finance Australia and the U.S. Export-Import Bank. The project has also received Major Project Status from the Australian Government and been accepted into the federal Investor Front Door pilot, an initiative designed to streamline project engagement with government.

Ardea Managing Director and CEO Andrew Penkethman commented on the announcement: 

"The inclusion of the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project - Goongarrie Hub in the Australia-Japan Joint Statement on Elevated Critical Minerals Cooperation is important recognition of the Project's strategic value to both nations. The Goongarrie Hub hosts one of the largest nickel-cobalt Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves in Australia and the developed world."

Joint Venture Partnership with Japanese Corporations and Government Support

The Goongarrie Hub is held and operated through Kalgoorlie Nickel Pty Ltd, a joint venture entity established with Ardea, Sumitomo Metal Mining, and Mitsubishi Corporation. The Japanese consortium has the right to earn a 50% interest in the Goongarrie Hub, while Ardea retains a 65% interest at this stage of the project's development.

At the government level, the Government of Japan has provided economic security grant funding directed at building a resilient and secure critical minerals supply chain. On the financing side, Export Finance Australia and the U.S. Export-Import Bank have each provided non-binding and conditional indications of support, as announced by Ardea in February 2026.

The Australian Government has also provided formal support through two designations. In October 2025, the project was awarded Major Project Status, providing priority access to government engagement. In April 2026, it was accepted into the Investor Front Door pilot programme, aimed at streamlining engagement between large projects and government agencies.

Strategic Project Recognition for Critical Minerals Supply Chain Security

The Goongarrie Hub holds a mineral resource of 584 million tonnes, containing 4.0 million tonnes of nickel and 250,000 tonnes of cobalt, within the broader Kalgoorlie Nickel Project total of 854 million tonnes. The project is being developed with the aim of supplying critical minerals that underpin advanced manufacturing and battery supply chains, as referenced in the joint statement.

Ardea Managing Director and CEO Andrew Penkethman said: 

"The Goongarrie Hub hosts one of the largest nickel-cobalt Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves in Australia and the developed world. It is well positioned to support resilient, secure and diversified supply chains for Critical Minerals that underpin advanced manufacturing and battery supply chains. This government-to-government acknowledgement reinforces the importance of developing trusted, high-quality supply from stable jurisdictions, and through genuine collaboration."

The joint statement identifies shared priorities between Australia and Japan on critical minerals supply chain resilience, noting alignment with Japan's economic security objectives. Ardea noted that the inclusion recognises the Goongarrie Hub as a strategically important collaboration between the two nations.

Milestones and Next Steps

Since October 2025, the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project has received Major Project Status, non-binding financing indications from Export Finance Australia and the U.S. Export-Import Bank, acceptance into the federal Investor Front Door pilot programme, and now formal recognition in an Australia-Japan prime ministerial joint statement. 

Ardea Managing Director and CEO Andrew Penkethman added: 

"We welcome Japan's continued focus on economic security and supply chain resilience, and we look forward to working closely with our partners and stakeholders as we continue to advance the Goongarrie Hub toward development."

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