New South Wales Identifies Potential in Abandoned Mine Sites

In May 2025, the New South Wales (NSW) Government unveiled significant findings from its Mine Reuse Project, identifying 28 former and current mine sites across the state with potential reserves of critical minerals and high-tech metals essential for renewable energy technologies. Over 1,200 samples were collected in the largest study yet from the NSW Mine Reuse Project, unearthing key ingredients needed to build renewables. Metals essential to making solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries were discovered at mine sites across the Central West, Hunter, Northern Tablelands, and Broken Hill.​

The discoveries have significant implications for New South Wales' (NSW) economy and its role in the global transition to clean energy. Natural Resources Minister Courtney Houssos highlighted that the findings could help the state transition to clean energy while supporting mining jobs, with more than 6,000 currently employed across the state's 13 active metal and critical mineral mine sites. To bolster this sector, the NSW Government has committed $250 million in royalty deferrals for new critical mineral projects and $2.5 million towards a co-investment fund aimed at encouraging exploration and investment in critical minerals.

These initiatives are part of the state's broader Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Strategy 2024–35, which aims to position NSW as a major global supplier and processor of critical minerals and high-tech metals. The strategy focuses on encouraging exploration, incentivising production, establishing supply chains, developing future-ready skills, and engaging communities to ensure responsible mining practices .