Federal government steps in on China-linked Northern Minerals investors
The Australian federal government has mandated six Chinese-linked investors to divest their shares in Northern Minerals due to concerns over foreign control of the rare earths mining company. This decision is part of a broader effort to protect national interests and ensure compliance with foreign investment regulations. Northern Minerals is crucial for the supply of critical minerals, which are essential for military and clean energy technologies.
- ▪Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers ordered six companies to sell their holdings in Northern Minerals within two weeks.
- ▪The investors collectively hold around 17 percent of the company, which is developing a rare earths project in Western Australia.
- ▪The government has previously intervened to block Chinese-linked investments in Northern Minerals to safeguard national interests.
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Federal treasurer orders more Chinese-linked investors to offload shares in Australian rare earths mineSBy Stephen DziedzicTopic:Mining and Metals IndustryMon 18 May 2026 at 1:46pmMon 18 May 2026 at 1:46pmMon 18 May 2026 at 1:46pmNorthern Minerals operates the Browns Range mine in WA. (ABC Rural: Matt Brann)In short:Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has ordered another six companies to divest their holdings in Northern Minerals as concerns grow in Canberra that Chinese-backed investors are trying to seize control of the rare earths mining company.The six investors will have to sell their holdings within the next two weeks.A spokesman for Mr Chalmers did not lay out exactly why he had taken this step, simply saying the decision was "about protecting our national interest and ensuring…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).