I'm looking forward to the IMPC Asia Pacific '22 conference which starts today in Melbourne. We in the minerals industry are aware that mining is the world's most important industry, and that mineral processing is the most important technology, and this is reflected in some of the keynotes this week, highlighting the challenges that lie ahead and the role of critical minerals in the quest to achieve net zero carbon.
"If it can't be grown in must be mined" has been the message thrown at the media and politicians over the years, usually falling on completely deaf ears.
But now a glimmer of hope- it would appear that indeed the message is now getting through to politicians. In July the UK released its very first Critical Minerals Strategy and Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said:
"Almost every part of modern daily life relies on minerals, often mined thousands of miles away. From our cars to mobile phones, wind turbines to medical devices, modern society is quite literally built on rocks. As technology evolves faster than ever, we become more and more reliant on a new cohort of minerals. We are moving to a world powered by critical minerals: we need lithium, cobalt and graphite to make batteries for electric cars; silicon and tin for our electronics; rare earth elements for electric cars and wind turbines."
Basically what we have been saying for years, but it is nice to hear it now from the mouth of a prominent government minister!
@barrywills
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I fully agree with you,Barry; you summarised the inevitability /essantiality of putting more focus on mineral industry.
ReplyDeleteProfessional societis have an affective role to play--have panel discussions and each country should come out with a "action plan" from exploration to utilisation with environmentally acceptable and society friendly(more interaction) is the need of the future.
Future of mineral industry is full of excitement and challenges.