Critical Minerals as Tools of Economic Statecraft - Hosted by the AIIA Queensland
Join us either in-person or online as Managing Director of Critical Minerals Association Australia, Namali Mackay, discusses the geopolitics of critical minerals and the need for supply chains to remain resilient to ensure the longevity of an industry crucial for our energy future and global supply.
If you are attending in-person, please arrive at Holding Redlich at 5.30pm for registration and drinks. This event will be available online. After registering, on July 25 you will receive a follow-up confirmation email containing further details on how to join the webinar which will commence at 6pm AEST. The event is free for AIIA Queensland members and AIIA members from all states. Non-members pay $10 and student non-members $5.
If you arrive after 6:00pm, the lifts may not be accessible. Please ring 0403 777 541 for assistance.
Critical minerals have been making the headlines as Western and allied nations race to increase their sovereign capability and secure their downstream manufacturing sectors' needs. The 'criticality' of metals and mineral varies from country to country based on a nation's industrial, defence and economic strategies. Sudden supply shocks and geopolitical disturbances can swiftly shift the criticality of a commodity.
Critical mineral supply chains, from mine to end-product, are vulnerable to supply chain disruptions due to heavy monopolisation, particularly in the midstream processing and refining space. As a result, both the miners and the manufacturers are reliant on China for a steady supply of refined critical materials. China's export ban on rare earths to Japan following a political dispute was one example of how vulnerable many nations are to securing critical minerals for end products such as electric vehicles, phones, and wind turbines that our society and economies are now relying on. Australia plays an important role in this geopolitical puzzle – containing almost all the critical minerals required for future technologies. Australia's approach to supporting its critical minerals industry will shape not only our new energy future but also have a significant impact on the world's supply.