The International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) 2023 in Sydney was a popular event, featuring more than 9,000 delegates from 120 countries, 600 speakers and more than 500 exhibitors.
With keynote addresses and presentations from industry leaders, government ministers and international diplomats covering everything from sustainability to safety, ESG to electrification and First Nations rights to financing, IMARC claimed the crown of Australia’s largest mining event once again in 2023.
Australia as a critical minerals leader
Day two saw Australian Federal Government Minister for Resources Madeleine King address IMARC on Australia’s role in the energy transition and its competitive advantages in meeting the world’s critical mineral needs.
“Australia’s resources industry is a powerhouse of the economy,” the Minister said.
“Mining underpins our standard of living, providing 75% of Australian exports and almost 15% of GDP.
“Australia's resources export earnings reaped a record $460 billion in the recent financial year.
“Taxes from our resources industry build roads and hospitals. Iron ore, gas and coal pay for our schools and defence forces.”
METS significant
Minister King highlighted that 30 of the top 100 METS companies in the world are based in Australia, which is at the forefront of the sector’s most important developments, including remote operating vehicles, horizontal drilling, robotics and automation, airborne exploration technologies and mineral flotation.
Australia is also the world's largest leading producer of unprocessed lithium – producing most of the world's hard rock lithium – the third largest cobalt exporter, the fourth largest rare earths exporter and has the seventh largest economic resource of natural graphite in the world.
“The world's path to reaching Net Zero runs through the resources sector,” Minister King emphasised.
“The resources sector will provide for our future energy security, and it's clear that reaching Net Zero will require more mining, not less. I see it being nothing short of a national mission to ensure our critical minerals are mined to meet domestic and international demand, as well as being processed here in Australia.
“The entire world is seeking access to our critical minerals and rare earths, but at the same time, they are also seeking alternatives closer to home.
“Australia needs to embrace this opportunity, promoting our reputation as a reliable, stable and ethical supplier of resources.”