Jointly held with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on October 23, with participation from key mineral research institutions and universities from both countries
Sharing the latest trends in lithium refining technology and expanding technology-focused networks to contribute to global supply chain stability
POSCO Holdings hosted the 1st Korea–Australia Critical Minerals Forum 2025: Lithium Extraction Technologies jointly with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on October 23.
POSCO Holdings, which established the Australia Critical Minerals R&D Lab in May—the first resource-specialized research institute in Australia by a Korean company—has been continuously strengthening its R&D cooperation network with Australian critical mineral research institutions through joint forums and other initiatives.
The forum brought together participants from POSCO Holdings, POSCO Pilbara Lithium Solution, and from Korea: the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Seoul National University, and Hanyang University. From Australia, attendees included experts from the three major critical minerals R&D hubs—CSIRO, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), and Geoscience Australia—as well as academic representatives from The University of Melbourne and Murdoch University.
Given the participants were based in both Korea and Australia, the forum was conducted online, connecting Seoul POSCO Center, Pohang POSCO N.EX.T Hub, and major Australian cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Canberra.
In July, representatives from Australian mineral research institutions and universities visited the Pohang POSCO N.EX.T Hub to exchange technologies in the field of critical mineral raw materials, agreeing to create synergies through ongoing technical exchanges and research cooperation. Following this, in September, POSCO Holdings signed a memorandum of understanding with CSIRO on research cooperation in carbon reduction steel technologies and critical mineral refining technologies, continuing to explore synergy creation opportunities.
At the forum, POSCO Group, Korea’s leading mineral research institutions and universities, and Australia’s key research organizations with abundant mineral resources engaged in in-depth discussions on the latest refining technologies for ore and brine lithium, Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) and other innovative technologies, as well as Korea–Australia cooperation strategies for building a sustainable lithium supply chain.
Ki-soo Kim, Head of POSCO N.EX.T Hub, stated:
“POSCO Group is not only commercially producing battery-grade lithium from ore and salt lakes, but also conducting demonstrations of next-generation technologies such as Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE). The core of competitiveness in the lithium business lies in securing superior technology. To this end, we will continue to pursue closer research cooperation with experts from both countries.”
Yulia Uvarova, Deputy Director of CSIRO, said:
“Australia and Korea will be the most important partners in preparing for the era of energy transition. Let us join forces to lead the global critical minerals industry through technological innovation.”
POSCO Holdings plans to continue expanding its technology-focused network for critical minerals through diverse collaborations with Australia, thereby contributing to the stabilization of the global critical minerals supply chain.
▲ On October 23, POSCO Holdings held the 1st Korea-Australia Core Minerals Forum in collaboration with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) of Australia.