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
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
3 comments:
Maori never extracted and used any of the minerals in NZ prior to Europeans arriving.
Not even the abundant coal beneath their feet to keep them warm.
Now they make up myths to obstruct any attempts by others to use them, any their new gods can only be placated with cash koha.
Why can't our politicians push back on this crap, all the way from Maori demands to be paid to be part of our space program, the $50M as compensation for our use of their radio frequency spectrum, rainwater, to the minerals in the ground ?
I simply don't understand why these politicians can't see that they are damaging their grandchildren's future.
Are Maori threatening their families with violence ?
I agree Anon at 3.13. I cannot in any way understand the groveling reflex in every local body or other authority which motivates them to pay Maori for commodities which belong to the country as a whole. If Maori ask, tell them NO, but I suspect they hardly even need to push their demands before the ignominious idiots scrabble for the dollars. How shameful.
David agree completely. Invest in as many good quality (non chinese) mining companies as you can. You will be well rewarded in the mid to long term future. Graphite, cobalt, rare earth's, which are not that rare, manganese, potash and copper for starters.
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