Western Australia underpins Australia’s position as the world’s largest lithium producer, making its mining sector a significant driver of regional economic growth and employment.
The state has a comprehensive regulatory framework designed to manage the socio-environmental impacts of hard-rock lithium mining, including requirements related to environmental protection, Indigenous rights, and the health and safety of workers and surrounding communities.
As demand for lithium continues to grow, so too does the responsibility of industry and government to uphold and refine standards that govern mining practice. The conclusions and lessons from this case study can guide sustainable hard-rock lithium mining and processing in Australia as well as other jurisdictions.
This case study is part of a project on strengthening supply chain resilience by analyzing the environmental and associated social impacts of critical minerals extraction and processing through the development of country-commodity case studies focused on nickel, lithium, and copper. It describes Western Australia’s environmental challenges and associated social issues from hard-rock lithium mining and examines policy measures for managing them.
