An update on the Minerals Council of Australia’s (MCA) strategy for mining industry growth was a particular highlight from day two of the WA Mining Conference and Exhibition.
MCA executive director for Western Australia David Parker took to the stage to kick off day two, presenting the MCA’s latest industry report, ‘Minerals-plus: An investment strategy for a resource-intensive future’.
The report sets out a strategy to support Australian industry successfully integrating into fast growing, high-demand global supply chains.
“Australia has a brief window of opportunity to meet the government’s ambitions of becoming a clean energy superpower,” the report stated.
“But that ambition will only be achieved if Australia doubles down on what it’s best at – producing the minerals and metals required for the clean energy transition.”
The report provides 10 key recommendations to leverage Australian mining’s comparative advantage and ensure the industry continues to underpin the nation’s economic future.
“With energy demand expected to double by 2050, all technologies – renewables, batteries, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and nuclear – will be required to meet future energy needs,” the report said.
“That’s why the report also advocates for the removal of legislative prohibitions on nuclear activities.”
In his speech to attendees, Parker highlighted some of the key findings of the report, including the fact that in the industry in Australia, there are no shortage of projects being investigated by investors.
“In any given year, only 1 in 20 projects are progressing to development,” he said. “Every adverse impact only amplifies the threshold for new investment. The harder we make things, the more investors are going to head elsewhere.
“We need to leverage spillovers, improve coordination, provide public inputs, build on planning expertise and create opportunities.”
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