Key global players to attend Darwin Dialogues key resources conference

Heavy-hitters from the critical minerals and rare earths sector as well as government will explore the key issues around the global future for mining.

Key industry figures from Australia, Japan and the United States will be in Darwin next week for a critical minerals and rare earths conference.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Darwin Dialogue will bring together leaders and key participants in the emerging sector to discuss key issues surrounding critical minerals and rare-earth elements.

The event is sponsored by the NT government and critical minerals start-up Tivan.

Federal Resources and Northern Australia minister Madeleine King will address the Dialogue which will be held over three days beginning April 12.

She is bullish about the prospects for the Northern Territory as global demand for rare earths and critical minerals grows.

Federal Resources and Northern Australia minister Madeleine King will be in Darwin for the. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“The road to net zero runs through Australia’s resources sector,” Ms King said.

“The world will need more mining, not less, in order to reach its net zero targets.

“The Albanese government is committed to ensuring that the benefits of this rare opportunity can be captured by all Australians, particularly those living in our northern regions.

“Australia has vast deposits of critical minerals and rare earths elements, including across the Northern Territory, and the Territory has the potential to play a major role in Australia’s growing critical minerals sector.

“The NT is already home to a number of critical minerals mines, with further significant projects in the development stages for production of rare earths elements as well as lithium, vanadium, titanium, cobalt, nickel and magnesium

“The Australian government will continue to work with the NT to help facilitate project development.”

The Open Cut at the official opening of the Finniss Lithium mine Picture: Glenn Campbell

Earlier this month Minister King met with deputy chief minister and mining minister Nicole Manison and late last month hosted the first ministerial roundtable since 2020 to discuss critical minerals.

“Over the past three years global demand for Australia’s critical minerals has increased dramatically,” Minister King said.

“Ministers agreed that the development of our critical minerals sector is a national priority which will lead to new economic opportunities, particularly for regional Australia, and will help produce the materials needed to lower emissions in Australia and around the world.”

Rare earths elements are a group of 17 metals, 15 lanthanides and two other similar metals used in the manufacture of modern technological products such as mobile phones or EV batteries.

The Darwin Dialogue website acknowledges the geo-political importance of extracting and processing rare earths in Australia.

“Historically, the global north has underinvested in critical minerals and REEs,” it said.

“Over the past few years, China has leveraged this underinvestment as an opportunity to dominate the global marketplace for most of these materials.

Arafura Rare Earth Limited’s managing director Gavin Lockyer. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Tivan chief executive Grant Wilson

“Australia possesses a unique opportunity to become a major global player in critical minerals and REEs by capitalising on their abundance in northern Australia.

“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.”

Core Lithium’s Finniss mine, about 80km from Darwin, illustrated the high demand for rare earths and their potential to drive growth.

After the ore body was discovered in 2016, the next two years were spent shoring-up its feasibility, final investment decision was concluded in September 2021 and the first shipments of spodumene was freighted out of East Arm Wharf to China at the beginning of the year.

A production plant has since been built and is operating at the site.

Arafura Rare Earths Limited, which has plans to mine and process rare earths from its Nolans project about 130km north of Alice Springs, appears to be moving closer to FID with a number of recent significant announcements.

Company managing director Gavin Lockyer will also attend the Darwin Dialogue as well as chief executive of Tivan, Grant Wilson.

The company wants to develop a critical minerals processing plant at Middle Arm.