Australia has been a frontrunner in world mining for generations, however this has not dissuaded new funding and exploration within the business. Leaders within the sector are turning in the direction of lithium as a possible new funding alternative, as demand for the steel skyrockets attributable to its use in electrical automobiles, and buyers keen to place their cash into one thing tangible, like a mineral.
This isn’t to say that the sector is not going to face challenges, nonetheless. The pursuit of lithium will deliver Australia into direct competitors with lithium leaders China and Chile, and Australian lithium deposits are much less useful than deposits in different nations, elevating the price of this new sector and already diminishing returns on funding. The query might be, subsequently, will world lithium demand maintain lengthy sufficient for financiers to make again their investments, or will the business stumble out of the gates?
Elsewhere, we have a look at how Australian mining is seeking to restore a few of the injury accomplished to ladies and indigenous teams. Trade leaders wish to reverse course from a sector with an entrenched tradition of dismissing minority rights and opinions, however it stays to be seen how efficient this transformation in coverage might be. We additionally communicate to Iluka Assets about its new uncommon earth refinery, and assess the long-term monetary challenges for the sector.
Whether or not you’re on a desktop, pill or smartphone, you may learn the journal at no cost on-line, and be part of the dialog on Twitter.
On this situation
New discoveries: elevating the profile of lithium in Australia
Whereas Chile boasts the world’s largest lithium reserves, as Nnamdi Anyadike writes, Australia might show to be the world chief in lithium manufacturing.
Macro-economic mining: what is going to the long run maintain for Australia?
The macro-economic panorama is altering, however as Matthew Farmer explains, miners don’t have to concern.
“The primary of its kind”: in dialog with Iluka Assets
Jason Mitchell speaks to Tom O’Leary of Iluka Assets about its plans to develop a fully-integrated refinery for the manufacturing of separated uncommon earth oxides, together with neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium.
Folks, income, energy: how Rio Tinto is siding with indigenous house owners
Giles Crosse speaks to Rio Tinto about its current assist for indigenous teams in Australia, and asks how critically the miner is taking such points.
“Lifting the lid”: how Australian mining can tackle sexual abuse
The Australian Authorities needs to draw extra ladies to the mining business, however to take action, writes Isabeau Van Halm, it might want to tackle widespread sexual harassment first.
Subsequent situation: radioactive minerals
How will a uncommon commodity fare in one of many largest mining industries on this planet? As Australia seems to be to maneuver on from the Ranger mine, we ask if radioactive minerals will ever type a major a part of the nation’s mining sector, or whether or not the tip of manufacturing at Ranger means the tip of curiosity in uranium.
