Key industry figures from Australia, Japan and the United States will meet in the Northern Territory for the first Darwin Dialogue, discussing the production of critical minerals and rare-earth elements across northern Australia.
The Territory is underexplored for critical minerals and the demand for these minerals is expected to soar to support renewable energy, battery storage and high-tech industries.
The inaugural trilateral meeting is an invitation-only event and will be held from Wednesday 12 April to Friday 14 April 2023.
Northern Territory Chief Minister, Natasha Fyles, said, “The Northern Territory is already a global leader in manganese production, is home to the only Australian lithium producer outside of WA, and has potential to supply five per cent of global demand of magnet-feed rare earths (NdPr) at the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct.
“The Territory could also be processing vanadium and titanium on a sustainable basis and at a globally relevant scale.
“The Territory is rapidly emerging as a key player when it comes to the global supply chains for the critical minerals required for new technologies and the energy transition. The Darwin Dialogue puts the Territory on centre stage for investment. Already we are home to a number of critical minerals projects. We are positioning ourselves for the ongoing benefits and jobs of the future.
“The need for new critical mineral mines and mineral processing is continuing to grow to support the demand for renewable energy, battery storage and high-technology industries. This presents significant economic and strategic opportunities for the Territory to become a reliable supplier of minerals to support the transition to a decarbonised economy.”
The meeting is supported by the US and Japanese embassies in Australia and their respective ambassadors, Her Excellency Caroline Kennedy and His Excellency Shingo Yamagami. It provides a unique opportunity for domestic and international stakeholders to discuss key issues surrounding critical minerals and rare-earth elements in the Territory and northern Australia.
The Dialogue will feature multiple sessions focusing on national investment, along with the current and future state of critical mineral and rare-earth element supply and demand.
ASPI Head of Northern Australia Strategic Policy Centre, John Coyne, said, “The global markets for rare-earth elements and critical minerals are shaping to be the next economic hot zone for the Chinese Communist Party and Australia’s security. Australia is investing heavily in growing its manufacturing capability and should be a partner of choice for US and Japanese industry to support diversified and resilient supply chains.
“Given Australia’s important role in the Indo-Pacific and its enormous potential to supply rare-earth elements and critical minerals, the US and Japan should be looking in our direction as a priority.
“The Darwin Dialogue brings together key stakeholders to discuss, debate and ultimately define progress in this area. It presents a unique opportunity for participants to engage in open discussions on the subject, develop relationships and initiate action.
“Darwin offers deep symbolism for these kinds of dialogues. The presence of US rotational forces symbolises the strategic importance of Darwin’s geography. The INPEX LNG ships that leave Darwin Harbour symbolise Northern Australia’s economic importance to Japan in providing energy resilience.”
The Territory Government has released the Critical Minerals in the Northern Territory guide, which outlines the Territory’s current list of 15 critical minerals as well as the geological potential for a further 13 emerging critical minerals.
For the December 2022 quarter, mineral exploration expenditure in the Northern Territory was $56 million – up 25 per cent on the same quarter in 2021.
The Territory has a strong pipeline of critical minerals projects, including Core Lithium’s Finniss lithium mine, Arafura’s Nolans rare earths project, and Tivan who is planning to process vanadium and titanium on a sustainable basis and at a globally relevant scale, and Avenira’s proposed battery cathode manufacturing plant.
Critical minerals are used to manufacture advanced technologies, such as mobile phones, computers, fibre-optic cables, semi-conductors, banknotes, and in defence, aerospace and medical applications.
