Presionar por net-zero una oportunidad «única en una generación»: MCA
La industria minera de clase mundial de Australia tiene las herramientas para convertirse en líder en el esfuerzo global para lograr emisiones netas cero para 2050, pero la medida requerirá la acción del gobierno, según el Consejo de Minerales de Australia (MCA).
Australia’s world-class mining industry has the tools to become a leader in the global effort to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, but the move will require government action, according to the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA).
In its 2023–24 pre-budget submission, the MCA has expressed that in order for Australia to reach the net-zero goal for 2050, the world will require an astronomical quantity of minerals and metals.
By 2030 alone, the MCA said, the country will need 50 new lithium mines, 60 new nickel mines, and 17 new cobalt mines to meet electricity-storage demands.
“The MCA is calling on the Federal Government to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity by providing the right business and regulatory environment,” the MCA said in its submission.
According to the MCA, the mining industry already makes significant contributions to the Australian economy are significant, accounting for $2.4 trillion in resources export revenue, and 21 per cent of the economy’s growth over the last decade. And these contributions could conceivably balloon in the coming years.
“Since the peak of the mining investment boom in 2013, the industry has produced $2.4 trillion in resources export revenue, $252 billion in mining wages, $143 billion in company taxes, $112 billion in royalties, and generated 21 per cent of Australia’s GDP growth,” the MCA said.
“Australia’s minerals industry could increase its contribution to the economy with the right policy settings.”
But the economic boom is not guaranteed.
The MCA has previously called out the Federal Government for harmful workplace relations, tax, environment, climate change, and energy policies, which it believes threaten investment in the resources sector industry. It also believes rising costs, declining productivity, and increasing policy risk are making Australia a less attractive place to do business.
The MCA has now called on policymakers to provide the healthy regulatory environment needed to attract potential investors.
“Global mining investment is expected to increase by $US100 billion annually from current levels to produce the mineral commodities required for the world to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050,” the MCA said.
Among many proposals detailed in the pre-budget submission, the MCA has stressed the point that the industry’s long-term success depends on the discovery of mineral deposits of global significance.
It has proposed that the Federal Government adequately and permanently fund geoscientific research bodies, allowing for the production of data necessary to attract investment in exploration, allowing Australia to truly capitalise on what the MCA believes is a very unique opportunity.
Fuente: Australian Mining
