Updating Australia’s Critical Minerals List: issues paper

Submission to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources
On
Updang the Crical Minerals List – inclusion of Tin

Venture Minerals contends that the current criteria are fit for purpose and that Tin clearly meets the criteria
for inclusion on Australia's crical minerals list.

Tin is essenal to modern technologies through its use as solder in electronic equipment, from smartphones
and laptops to medical equipment and automove electronics, demand for solder will remain robust well
into the future.

Tin also plays a crical role in semiconductor manufacturing. It is used in the creaon of doped layers within
semiconductors, influencing their electrical properes. Semiconductors are vital to economic development
and to naonal security as can be seen from the policies of the United States in protecng the manufacture
of Semiconductors.

Further to the above, Tin is used in the producon of lithium-ion bateries (many of whose components are
themselves the subject of lisng on the Crical Minerals List). It is an important component in the anode
material used in these bateries, contribung to their energy density, cycle life, and overall performance. As
the world transions toward renewable energy and electric transportaon, the demand for lithium-ion
bateries will only increase, driving the need for sustainable and reliable Tin supply.

The long term and tradional use of Tin in packaging should not be underesmated. Tinplate is made by
coang thin steel sheets with a layer of n and provides corrosion resistance packaging for the food and
beverages industry which has the ability to preserve and maintain foods freshness. In a world focused on
sustainability and reducing waste, n packaging remains extremely relevant due to its recyclability compared
to many of its Petro chemical based alternaves.

Australia’s strategic partners have recognised the need for Tin to be included as a Crical Mineral well before
Australia has. The United States (2018), Japan (2018), Canada (2021) and UK (2021) all have Tin listed as a
Crical Mineral. Even China, the largest producer of Tin, included it on their Crical Minerals list in 2016.

Venture Minerals has a quanfied Tin and Tungsten resource at its prospecve Mount Lindsay mine in North
West, Tasmania with idenfied resources of 81,000 tonnes Tin metal and a further 3,200,000 mtu (1mtu
=10kgs of WO3) of tungsten trioxide of an exisng listed crical mineral, Tungsten.

If one looks at the current major producers and reserve holders of Tin (see charts below), China is the largest
producer and also has the largest reserves. Indonesia and Myanmar are major producers, but mainly using
arsanal mining techniques that are not economically, environmentally or from a human rights perspecve
sustainable. The second largest reserves are held by Russia which is clearly an unsustainable supply partner.

To quote the Internaonal Tin Associaon, in their Global Resources & Reserves, Security of long-term n
supply, 2020 Update on page 19, “However, it is vitally important for the image of tin, transparency and
confidence in supply from downstream buyers, that the market share of sustainable, and transparent tin
mining is maximised”.

Venture Minerals Limited | ASX:VMS
Level 2, 16 Altona Street, West Perth, Western Australia Page 1
T: + 61 8 6279 9428 | F: + 61 8 6500 9986 | admin@ventureminerals.com.au | www.ventureminerals.com.au
With exisng mines in Tasmania and Venture’s proposed new mine, Australia is now, and can connue to be a
stable and sustainable supplier of Tin to the world.

Venture Minerals is intending to be a fully sustainable supplier of Tin, ulising hydroelectric power, electric
underground mining techniques and a labour force that is well trained, safe and paid according to legislated
norms.

With this level of ore reserves in Tasmania there should be the possibility of building a smelter for the supply
of processed Tin to global markets. With Tin listed as a Crical Mineral in Australia, there will in all likelihood
be access to funding under the United States Inflaon Reducon Act and the CHIPS Act.

If investment can be atracted for a Tin smelter, it will create a fully integrated and sustainable supply chain,
ulise sustainable hydroelectricity, create hundreds of new, long term regional jobs and be a major boost to
the Tasmanian and Australian economy. This is very much supported by the Tasmanian Government in their
intent to create a Tasmanian Crical Minerals industry.

Tin is crical to the Australian and global economy, clearly recognised as subject to supply chain disrupon by
our allies as they have all listed Tin on their Crical Minerals lists. With over 40% of exisng supply coming
from arsanal mining and China being the largest producer and by far the largest reserve holder, Tin is a
Crical Mineral in all aspects of the definion as used by the Australian Government.

Therefore, Tin should be added to the Australian Crical Minerals List.

Authorised by the Managing Director on behalf of the Board of Venture Minerals Limited.

Yours sincerely

Andrew Radonjic
Managing Director

Venture Minerals Limited | ASX:VMS
Level 2, 16 Altona Street, West Perth, Western Australia Page 2
T: + 61 8 6279 9428 | F: + 61 8 6500 9986 | admin@ventureminerals.com.au | www.ventureminerals.com.au