MEDIA RELEASE: RZ Resources Welcomes Strategic Investment By Marubeni Corporation, further strengthening Australia-Japan Critical Minerals Strategic Partnership
November 10, 2025
RZ RESOURCES WELCOMES STRATEGIC INVESTMENT BY MARUBENI CORPORATION, FURTHER STRENGTHENING AUSTRALIA-JAPAN CRITICAL MINERALS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
RZ Resources Limited (RZ) has signed an agreement with Marubeni Corporation (Marubeni) for a A$15 million investment, giving Marubeni the option to obtain equity participation of up to 3.375%, an option to provide additional investment to increase participation to 5%, along with certain marketing and collaboration rights. This milestone follows the significant investment made by JX Advanced Metals Corporation announced in June this year and further deepens the long-term strategic relationship between RZ and Japan.
Japanese investment into upstream critical minerals is historic, deliberate, selective and strategic. Securing alignment with two major Japanese industrial groups at this stage is an extremely positive step for both RZ and for Australia, with further strategic investment anticipated to come from Japan over the next 6 to 12 months.
This Japanese investment adds significantly to RZ’s ongoing strategy to work closely with Japan and the United States in connection with investment, funding, construction and delivery of the Copi Project.
“This transaction reflects a deep strategic partnership that strengthens our ability to deliver a globally significant, geopolitically resilient supply of critical minerals through the Copi Project” RZ Founder and Executive Chairman David Fraser said.
Strategic and geopolitical importance
Global competition to secure critical minerals continues to accelerate as nations transition through a new industrial era driven by advanced manufacturing, defence, aerospace, energy transition technologies and permanent magnets. Japan remains almost entirely import reliant in these areas and diversification of supply with trusted partners is a national priority.
Australia is uniquely positioned to provide resilient, transparent and secure supply of critical minerals and RZ is progressing its strategy to play a critical role through long-term partnerships with strategic partners (in Japan, the United States and other jurisdictions), supported by active engagement with the United States Export-Import Bank (EXIM), which has provided a letter of interest for up to US$450 million in potential financing support, and Export Finance Australia, which has delivered a non-binding and conditional letter of support.
In addition to working closely with EXIM, RZ is progressing commercial arrangements with several strategic partners in the United States in connection with involvement and investment in RZ and the Copi Project.
Long-term capital partnership building
This transaction represents another critical step in building long-term supply capability between Australia, Japan and the United States. The coordinated participation of Marubeni and JX provides a strong strategic foundation as RZ moves into the next phase of its development.
David Fraser said, “Marubeni’s commitment sits alongside the existing support from JX and mirrors our ambition to build secure, reliable and long-term supply chains with trusted partners in critical minerals.”