David Farrar: Critical minerals

The Herald reports:

Dr Isabelle Chambefort, general manager – energy at Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly GNS Science), makes it clear minerals have always been critical.

“Humanity has been developed around mining.

“It has been the keystone of civilisation. It gave economic stability and gave us an increase in our technology.”

Since ochre and flint played their early part in human development, minerals with names like vanadium, germanium and zirconium have taken up the “critical” mantle.

“With the transition away from fossil fuels to more renewable energy, it is highly demanding on new materials, new minerals and new elements.”

The anti mining activists think we should leave everything in the ground, and just import it all from China. I think that is daft. In fact it is critical we are as self reliant as possible when it comes to critical minerals. Here’s a few on the list just published by the Government.

• Zirconium: Fuel cells, auto catalysts, bearings
• Antimony: Defence, electric vehicles (EVs), medical
• Cesium: Cancer treatments, electronics, optics, aerospace, photovoltaic cells
• Cobalt: Battery and energy storage applications, steel alloys, fertiliser and livestock health
• Copper: Power transmission, electronics, EVs, fertiliser and livestock health
• Zinc: Anodising, corrosion protection, fertiliser and livestock health

As the rules based order fades, it becomes even more vital we mine as much as we can of the critical minerals we need, rather than rely on supply chains that can disappear within days.

David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders