Non-binding and conditional support letters total up to about A$1 billion, with potential backing from Export Finance Australia (up to A$500 million) and the US EXIM Bank (up to US$350 million, roughly A$500 million).

The Goongarrie Hub is recognized for international cooperation, with support from Sumitomo, Mitsubishi, Export Finance Australia, EXIM, and METI contributing to half of the DFS budget of $98.5 million.

The project gained acknowledgment after a summit where the US and Japan agreed to deepen cooperation on critical minerals.

The Kalgoorlie nickel project (KNP) at Goongarrie Hub in Australia was spotlighted during a US–Japan summit focused on critical minerals, rare earths, and energy projects.

A Joint Fact Sheet from the Japan–US critical minerals cooperation highlights Goongarrie Hub's KNP and related projects as part of strengthening the global critical minerals supply chain.

Ardea has secured up to about A$1 billion in non-binding funding support from US and Australian agencies, including conditional Letters of Support from EFA and EXIM for potential financing.

The binding agreement from 2024 commits the Japanese consortium to finance the DFS entirely, in exchange for 35% of the project, potentially rising to 50% if the project achieves a positive FID for a >30,000 tpa nickel operation.

Contact information for Mining.com.au (Amy Rotman) is provided, and images related to Ardea Resources are included.

KNP-Goongarrie Hub hosts about 854 million tonnes at 0.71% nickel and 0.045% cobalt, equating to roughly 6.1 million tonnes of contained nickel and 386,000 tonnes of cobalt.

The overall non-binding and conditional funding support amounts to up to A$1 billion, incorporating potential EFA funding and EXIM interest.

In 2024, Ardea signed a binding agreement with Sumitomo Metal Mining and Mitsubishi Corporation to fully fund a DFS of $98.5 million, with the Japanese consortium taking 35% equity on DFS completion and up to 50% ownership on a positive FID for a large nickel operation.

The Kalgoorlie nickel project is among the world’s largest developed nickel–cobalt resources, with 854 Mt at 0.71% Ni and 0.045% Co.