International producer of critical minerals and metals, as well as producer of refined zinc in Australia — Nyrstar — pushes for Australia to consider a more global strategic approach to critical minerals in the company’s contribution to the national Critical Minerals List issues paper.
The company has urged for the Australian Federal Government’s Critical Minerals List to include zinc as it is an essential metal that unlocks other critical minerals and is used in the development and manufacturing process of many technologies.
Nyrstar Co-CEO Dale Webb said: “Zinc is among the most used metal on earth playing an indispensable role in the development and manufacture of thousands of products important to Australia, our trading region, and our strategic partners. By including zinc on its Critical Minerals List, Australia will join other nations including the US, Canada and South Korea and open up opportunities to strategically cooperate in addressing mutual supply chain risks,
“The market for minerals is an international one with supply chains for products and technologies spanning the globe, making it imperative for Australia’s Critical Minerals List to consider the economic security needs of both the nation and its international partners.”
Webb insists that by working with allied nations to examine the supply and demand dynamics across the region and identify the risks or opportunities posed, the country will succeed both economically and sustainably.
In the company’s submission, Nyrstar also identifies that electric vehicles are not the sole solution when it comes to the prevention of global warming and Australia should not solely prioritise minerals essential for battery creation.
Instead, the Australian Government should consider the industrial materials and minerals critical for other emerging technologies — including defense and security, space, agriculture, and the health field.
“When thinking critical minerals, Australia needs to start thinking beyond just batteries. The clean energy transition is driving significant and rapid change in the volume of minerals and metals the world needs to support a diversity of low carbon energy solutions. Australia’s Critical Minerals List will benefit from a broader consideration of emerging technologies and products necessary for the growth of modern, industrialised economies, and the resources that are integral to their supply chains.
“Some critical minerals are not found in great volumes in Australia, but we know that they can be unlocked through the processing of other metals the world needs. Germanium, gallium and indium are just examples of some of the critical minerals that can be produced through processing zinc. Australia’s Critical Minerals List should consider every opportunity that metals processing can provide in securing a new advantage for the nation and its international partners,” said Webb.
Nyrstar Australia has been producing lead, silver, zinc, and other essential materials in Port Pirie and Hobart for over 100 years.
