Lithium Valley Main Report 2018
6.6.3.6. Threats All countries that have high technology aspirations are devoting immense resources towards controlling the New Energy metal supply chain. Recent reports from the EU and the US show that China has been methodically executing a long-term strategy in this field for a number of years. Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia all seek to control the supply chain as it is fundamental to products that underpin their economies and security. Other countries and regions have New Energy metals, but no other region has the abundance and variety of resources such as in WA. A major threat highlighted in industry interviews was the siloed approach across departments and the inability for bureaucracy to be nimble and proactive compared to other jurisdictions. Companies have no sovereign loyalties and will move to whichever jurisdiction offers the best commercial terms. WA needs to demonstrate that it offers the best overall commercial terms and risk profile while ensuring strategic risks are managed by local suppliers of New Energy metals. Industry feedback indicated that the greatest threat to economic development is failing to improve the competitive efficiency of the supply chains, of which the Kwinana port is a fundamental requirement. The new port at Kwinana provides the greatest opportunity to expand scale, reduce costs, develop new businesses or become more internationally competitive. Additional major threats are continued urban encroachment, technological obsolescence, inconsistencies between local and state planning, security, transfer of production facilities to other states or countries, and bureaucratic process and approval delays. Recently South Australia has been seen as very proactive toward industry. Without exception, companies interviewed said it is easier to gain necessary approvals in SA than compared to WA. Without continual reduction in capital or operational costs and improvement in local infrastructure, companies in the region will risk falling behind their international competitors. This in turn threatens the on-going operations of companies in the region, with the consequent risk of either relocation or closing down of their operations.
should be made to break down information silos and work towards shared goals. A commercial approach should be taken rather than a political process approach. WA has the opportunity to aggressively target local investment from international companies that already have commercially successful intellectual property and production processes in WA’s value-chain gaps and foster long-term links between these strategic companies and local research and development organisations to build the next generation of intellectual property in the sector. As JTSI is the lead agency for economic development, international trade and investment as well as reporting to the Premier, it is the obvious government department to be responsible for the development of a strategic resources industry. 6.6.3.5. Wastewater capture and re-use Treated wastewater with reduced dissolved salt content is a valuable and expensive commodity. Yet, much of the treated water in WA is being pumped back out to sea. WaterCorp is part of the Managed Aquifer Recharge study process that has demonstrated that treated water can be safely injected into aquifers. In a land where water is a limited resource there are obvious economic, social and environmental benefits of reusing this water . The Kwinana Wastewater Recycling Plant (KWRP) is the cornerstone initiative in WaterCorp’s plan to reduce the amount of scheme water consumed in the Kwinana Industrial Area. There is an opportunity to increase KWRP’s current nameplate capacity by 60%, to produce recycled water that could be used within WTC, which is an essential resource for the manufacture of New Energy metals. There is the potential for the cost of additional recycled water to be funded by industry if policy can be developed where treated wastewater leaving the Woodman Point Waste Water Treatment Plant is further recycled to specific industry standards onsite where a company is located. This option could reduce the cost and open up similar opportunities in agriculture.
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