Australia can provide the world with minerals crucial to curbing local weather change, balanced with the necessity to mine sustainably and commerce pretty.
More than 3500 delegates have gathered in Brisbane for the World Mining Congress of scientists, researchers, firm executives and diplomats being held in Australia for the primary time.
“As we move to a net-zero emission system, we’re not engaging in a race between countries but a race against time,” main vitality economist Tim Gould advised the opening day of the symposium in a prerecorded speech on Monday.
Australia is “extremely well-placed’ with world-leading reserves and access to cheap renewable energy, he said.
But the task is for like-minded countries to combine their particular competitive advantages which may include a large domestic market, highly skilled workforce or established auto and manufacturing sectors.
The result could be a reliable and affordable supply of critical minerals and rare earths, rather than scarcity and a new energy crisis.
Mr Gould does not anticipate China’s market dominance in factory-ready minerals will be reduced quickly, as it’s been built up over many years.
A wider set of countries are on board for collaboration as Australia develops clean energy pacts with the United States, Europe, India and Asia.
But delegates want to work from the same rule book on sustainable mining and international trade, fearing a new wave of protectionism or localised subsidies will shut out poorer nations.
Tuesday’s official opening features a welcome from host CSIRO adopted by plenary classes with executives from BHP, Anglo American, Fortescue Metals and Orica.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
