On 28 September 2023, Resources Minister Madeleine King will attend the inaugural International Energy Agency (IEA) Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Summit in Paris to promote Australia as a reliable supplier of critical minerals to Europe and the United Kingdom.

Minister King will hold bilateral talks with ministerial counterparts from Germany, the EU, France and the UK.

Talks will involve industry representatives from across Europe and the UK, including Europe’s automotive industry, which will need more critical minerals to manufacture electric vehicles (EVs).

Minister King stated that Australia has the critical minerals the world needs to help lower emissions and that the country has well-established export supply chains that have been built over decades through the iron ore and gas industries.

“Australia’s resources sector also has high environmental and social governance standards (ESG), and a global reputation as a stable and reliable export partner.

“I released Australia’s new Critical Minerals Strategy in June, which lays out Australia’s support for the industry and our plan to become a globally significant supplier of critical minerals by 2030,” said Minister King.

The visit to Europe and the UK will be a chance to outline how Australia is working with the sector and cooperating with international partners to diversify global supply chains and support investment in the mining and processing of key critical minerals.

“The world’s clean energy transition will ride on the back of Australia’s critical minerals. Critical minerals are crucial components of clean energy technologies such as batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage, as well as for wind farms and solar panels,” said Minister King.

Australia is the world’s leading producer of unprocessed lithium, the world’s third largest cobalt exporter and the fourth-largest exporter of rare earths. Australia is also the fourth largest exporter of mined copper and nickel and a significant producer of aluminium.

The IEA meeting in Paris will provide opportunities for discussions with IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol and other ministers.