Inspenet, July 3, 2023.
The 2023 World Mining Congress was held for the first time in Australia and was attended by mining leaders from seventy countries.
More than 3,500 participants, including scientists, researchers, business executives and diplomats, have gathered in Brisbane for the World Mining Congress, which is taking place in Australia for the first time.
In the keynote address, energy economist Tim Gould said in a recorded message: “As we move towards a net-zero emissions system, we are not competing between countries, we are fighting against time.” In addition, he highlighted that Australia is in a very favorable position , thanks to its world-leading reserves and its access to affordable renewable energy .
The challenge, however, is for like-minded countries to pool their specific competitive advantages, which may include a large domestic market, a highly-skilled workforce, or consolidated automotive and manufacturing sectors.
As a result, a reliable and affordable supply of critical minerals and rare earths could be achieved, rather than facing shortages and a new energy crisis.
Gould does not foresee a rapid reduction in China’s market dominance in essential manufacturing minerals, as this has been accumulating for many years. However, a broader set of countries is pitching in as Australia establishes clean energy agreements with the United States, Europe, India and Asia.
Congress delegates want to work under the same rules on sustainable mining and international trade to prevent a new wave of protectionism or local subsidies excluding poorer nations.
The opening ceremony on Tuesday included a welcome by the host CSIRO, followed by plenary sessions with executives from BHP, Anglo American, Fortescue Metals and Orica.
More or less mining activity? Key theme of the World Mining Congress 2023
Mark Cutifani, former CEO of mining giant Anglo American, urged the resource sector to play a more proactive role in educating academics, politicians and bureaucrats about the fundamental importance of the mining sector in society. During his speech at the World Mining Congress 2023 in Brisbane on Monday morning, Cutifani told delegates that they “must explain how the raw materials we mine are literally the source of everything.”
“Our modern and industrial society, as well as our new technologies, are built on mineral platforms and infrastructures. Minerals are the basis of the raw materials that make life possible for 8 billion people on planet Earth,” he said.
He added that if we want change in terms of regulation and policy framework, we need to act, educate and promote the facts about how the world works and what we need to do to create a sustainable world.
For her part, Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King told congress that “we will need more mining, not less” to meet the demand for clean energy technologies, such as wind farms, solar farms and batteries.
King also highlighted the importance of communicating the critical role of the mining sector in the transition to a net zero emissions economy. However, he warned that miners would struggle to win investor backing for new projects if harmful impacts on the environment are not reduced and minimized.
These comments came after the Albanian government published its critical minerals strategy last week. Chris Ellison, managing director of MinRes, whose company mines lithium and iron ore in Western Australia, said the strategy should have included tax incentives and accelerated approvals for critical mineral projects.
Similarly, King said the strategy is just the beginning of government support for the mining industry. For his part, Cutifani also stressed the need to build multi-stakeholder consensus, citing Anglo American’s efforts to win the support of the Pope and 1.6 billion Catholics.
In 2015, mining leaders, including the chief executives of Rio Tinto and Anglo American, met Vatican officials in Rome seeking a fair dialogue for the industry. Cutifani noted that in many parts of the world, especially in Africa, you may not find government or commercial infrastructure, but you will definitely find a church presence. He highlighted that engaging communities through people’s values and beliefs is a great way to reach out to a wide range of the community and show respect towards them.
Source: https://www.nuevamineria.com/revista/australia-inaugura-su-primer-congreso-mundial-de-mineria-2023/
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