The Albanese government is understood to want the new money to flow to projects that can swiftly boost supply of minerals to defence allies including Japan, South Korea and the US, and that means billions of taxpayer dollars will probably flow to established miners. About $1.25 billion of the original $2 billion critical minerals facility was loaned to profitable mineral sands exporter Iluka Resources to build Australia’s first rare earths refinery. Biggest challenges The $2 billion facility has also enabled pre-revenue graphite aspirants Ecograf and Renascor Resources to get loans of up to $40 million and up to $185 million…