Carbon Capture Storage needed to meet net zero: Labor Minister’s shock rallying cry to mining industry

An Albanese government minister will issue a rallying call to the industry today, claiming more mining is needed “faster than ever” to reach net zero commitments.

More mining is needed “faster than ever” to reach net zero, Resources Minister Madeleine King will say in a rallying call to the industry, while explicitly backing controversial carbon capture and storage technology.

Ms King will also use a significant speech at the World Mining Congress in Brisbane today to say more must be done to help Australians understand the resources sector “provides significant economic benefits to our country” as well as First Nations and regional communities.

The Queensland event marks the first time the conference of mining giants has been held in Australia and comes as the industry indicated it would continue its “policy-based information campaign”, sparked in the wake of the State Government’s coal royalties hike.

Ms King’s endorsement of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is likely to cause a stir among the Greens and Labor’s left faction, while Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has previously described the process as “not the answer to all our problems”.

Ms King will also say Queensland will play a role mining the next big push in renewable energy – a vanadium battery which lasts longer and loses less capacity overtime – with huge stores of vanadium in the state.

Meanwhile, Opposition resources spokeswoman Senator Susan McDonald will warn anti-mining rhetoric was spreading misinformation and would put the sector at risk “if allowed to flourish unchecked”.

Resources Minister Madeleine King. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Ms King will say the “road to net zero runs through Australia’s resources sector”, but that more needs to be done to help Australians understand the role it will play.

“More mining is required to meet this urgent demand for clean energy technologies,” Ms King will say.

“That means producing more raw materials for renewables and clean energy technologies faster than ever.

“But we must do more to help Australians understand that the resources sector provides significant economic benefits to our country, as well as opportunities to share the benefits with First Nations communities and regional communities.”

Ms King will also stress the industry needs to reduce and minimise harmful impacts on the environment so it can maintain its social licence and secure investors for new projects.

She will also call carbon capture and storage “one of the biggest opportunities for emissions reduction” in the energy sector, saying will need “more permanent carbon storage projects, not less”.

“(Carbon capture, utilisation and storage) is an important part of getting to net zero and we are focused on making sure projects that are commercial have regulatory certainty so they can get on with it,” Ms King will say.

Opposition resources spokeswoman Senator Susan McDonald. Picture: Blair Jackson

She will say Queensland will play an important role in producing vanadium for “Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries” – large-scale battery storage which could be used to shore up the electricity grid during peak demand periods.

“Unlike better known lithium-ion batteries, vanadium redox flow batteries boast superior durability for long term storage and charging and the technology has much greater recycling potential,” she will say.

Senator McDonald will say Australia needs to capitalise on critical minerals like vanadium, as well as processing and refining the resources, but had not yet grasped the opportunity.

“Vanadium Redox Batteries are Australia’s opportunity to establish the full battery supply chain, from pit to battery and into our grid,” she will say.

But she will warn there was an increase in anti-mining sentiment coming from a “very loud minority”.

“There remains a risk that if this rhetoric is allowed to flourish unchecked, that it will spread misinformation about the sector that builds pressure on Government and industry, putting the future of mining at risk,” Senator McDonald will say.