Critical minerals discussion Oz
The AusIMM newsletter (16/12/22) supports the Australian government’s call for people to have their say in a discussion paper on the future of Australia’s critical minerals. discussion paper In early 2023, AusIMM will open an online form where you can provide your short (200 word) responses for consideration in our submission. Submissions, feedback and views on the new Strategy can be sent directly to [email protected]
Selected extracts in the Australian Discussion Paper (Dec 2022) include:
Australia produced almost half the world’s lithium in 2020, produces nine of the ten minerals used in lithium-ion battery anodes and cathodes, and has projects seeking to develop refineries for the tenth (graphite). Australia is the largest producer of titanium and zirconium and is the fourth largest producer of rare earth elements. The Government is considering how to best target its efforts to help progress critical minerals projects at all stages of development towards a point where they are sufficiently advanced to seek final investment financing and become commercially viable. The Government can help de-risk projects by crowding in private investment. Projects may also be eligible for equity or financing support through financing vehicles.
?Building strategic international partnerships is fundamental for Australia’s critical minerals projects. Strengthened government-to-government collaboration could increase access to global markets. Initiatives to support enhanced international collaboration Strategic agreements with partner governments, government-to business and commercial arrangements may create opportunities that support investment or build critical minerals capability. We are looking for feedback on what key activities the Australian Government could undertake in collaboration with its key international partners to secure tangible outcomes that help unlock Australia’s critical minerals potential.
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General;
Australia and Indonesia already have significant cross investment in mining some critical minerals. ?Indonesia is a significant towner in Australia’s lithium mines, and Australian companies are prominent in Indonesia’s zircon mining. Australia and Indonesia have much of the western worlds nickel reserves.
Australian universities produce 20 – 30 metallurgy graduates per year, while Indonesian universities produce 200 or more metallurgists per year. Both Australia and Indonesia have national geological and research initiatives associated with developing the Critical Minerals industries. Indonesia seems to go one step further in formally training geochemical graduates to run the technical divisions of battery factories. Australia does not yet have existing bilateral collaborations with Indonesia related to critical minerals. Australia and Indonesia industry leaders have floated the idea of Australia being a source of lithium for the Indonesian battery manufacture industry.
Conclusion.
The Australian and Indonesian governments could work more closely in the future developments related to the critical minerals.
Perhaps the Australian and Indonesian geological/ mining/ metallurgy associations could explore paths to work more closely to support professionals working in each other’s countries in exploration, mining, metallurgy, research and training.?
President Director PT SMG Consultants
1 年Can iI suggest the conversation starts with defining what mineral is critical and what is not. For example on some countries list Cokign coal is defined as a critical mineral for reasons that shoudl not need explaining. On other countries cokign coal is not in their list .