Luni Niobium Project Boasts 220Mt at 1.0% Nb2O5 and A$155M Cash Backing
WA1 Resources has revealed a substantial indicated mineral resource at its Luni Niobium Project, supported by successful metallurgical testwork and a robust financial position. The project’s strategic importance in the critical minerals sector is underscored by ongoing development and community engagement.
- Luni Niobium Project holds 220Mt at 1.0% Nb2O5 with 46% classified as Indicated
- A$155 million cash position to fund ongoing development and testwork
- Proof-of-concept testwork confirms amenability to conventional ferroniobium production
- Project awarded Major Project Status by Australian government in 2025
- Strong institutional backing and experienced management team aligned with shareholders
A Significant Step in Niobium Development
WA1 Resources Ltd has provided a comprehensive update on its Luni Niobium Project, located in Western Australia’s West Arunta region. Discovered in late 2022 and granted Major Project Status by the Australian government in 2025, Luni is rapidly emerging as one of Australia’s most strategic critical mineral projects. The company’s latest figures reveal a substantial mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 220 million tonnes at 1.0% niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5), with nearly half of the contained niobium classified as Indicated, reflecting a high level of confidence in the resource.
Robust Financial and Institutional Support
WA1’s strong financial position, with A$155 million in cash reserves as of September 2025, underpins its ability to advance key project workstreams. The company benefits from a solid shareholder base, including long-term institutional investors and significant board and management holdings, aligning interests closely with those of shareholders. This financial strength is critical as WA1 progresses through pre-development activities, including mine design, environmental studies, and community engagement.
Technical Validation Through Testwork
Metallurgical testwork has demonstrated the amenability of Luni’s mineralisation to a conventional ferroniobium production flowsheet, similar to established global operations. This includes beneficiation, hydrometallurgical refining, and pyrometallurgical conversion steps. Notably, WA1 has produced both ferroniobium and niobium oxide samples, opening opportunities to optimise the product mix to maximise development, offtake, and funding options. The testwork results are a critical milestone, confirming the project’s technical viability and potential to supply high-quality niobium products.
Strategic Importance of Niobium
Niobium is a critical mineral essential to modern steelmaking, enhancing strength, toughness, and weldability through micro-alloying. With global ferroniobium production around 115,000 tonnes per annum and prices near US$30,000 per tonne, demand continues to grow, particularly in automotive, structural, and pipeline sectors. Niobium oxide, used in aerospace, defence, and medical applications, commands even higher prices and is supplied by very few producers globally. WA1’s Luni Project is well positioned to meet this growing demand, especially given geopolitical supply risks and the mineral’s critical status in multiple jurisdictions.
Ongoing Development and Community Engagement
WA1 is actively progressing pre-development site works, including drilling to increase resource confidence, hydrogeological studies, and infrastructure planning such as airstrip construction. The company has also signed negotiation protocols with key native title holders and runs community programs, reflecting a commitment to responsible development in remote regions. Engagement with state and federal governments remains positive, supporting the project’s pathway toward formal permitting and eventual production.
Bottom Line?
With a strong resource base, proven metallurgical pathways, and solid financial backing, WA1’s Luni Niobium Project is poised to become a cornerstone of Australia’s critical minerals future.
Questions in the middle?
- How will WA1’s ongoing drilling impact the confidence and size of the Luni resource?
- What are the timelines and milestones for securing final permits and commencing production?
- How might WA1 optimise its product mix between ferroniobium and niobium oxide to maximise market value?
