October 25, 2025: Nyrstar is to be part of a US-Australia critical minerals pipeline deal in a major boost for the firm’s lead and zinc refining operation.

Nyrstar said on October 21 it had received a non-binding and conditional letter from Export Finance Australia (EFA) for financing and investment support for continued antimony production at the South Australia facility.

The announcement comes just weeks after Batteries International reported Port Pirie had secured a conditional cash injection of A$135 million (US$88 million) to continue critical metals processing, accelerating development of antimony and bismuth facility as well as scheduled maintenance at its lead and zinc refining operation.

The EFA deal was announced on the day that Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese and US president Donald Trump signed a bilateral framework on critical minerals and rare earths.

Alongside the framework, each country said it would provide at least (USD)$1 billion in investments towards an $8.5 billion pipeline of priority critical minerals projects in both countries over the next six months.

Antimony is an alloy hardener for other metals in ammunition and batteries and is critical to the manufacture of semi-conductors and important for the lead battery industry as a key performance ingredient in deep cycle lead batteries.