Government backs West Coast mineral processors with $50m in loans

The government will lend $50 million to two West Coast mineral sands companies for processing facilities, Resources Minister Shane Jones announced on 5 July. Westland Mineral Sands receives $30 million toward a $70 million plant near Westport; Tāiko Critical Minerals gets up to $20 million for a $40 million facility at Barrytown. The investment is expected to create around 170 jobs and shift output from raw material exports to semi-processed product.