A fundamental choice for Critical Minerals development: "Fascism or radical democracy?"

The global demand for critical minerals like lithium and copper is surging, but how we attempt to quickly extract them, argues Katherine Teh , Executive Chairman of Spektrum Development , presents a fundamental choice: embrace authoritarian tactics that disregard communities or pursue transparent, consent-based development. In this pivotal moment, the stakes are high-ranging, from environmental destruction to lost economic potential. Which path should be chosen? Katherine Teh of Spektrum Development addressing the 2024 ACFID Conference WE ARE AT a crossroads in the energy transition. The gap between what the mining industry promises and what it delivers has been widening, creating not only delays but the potential for significant socio-economic and environmental risks. As the demand for critical minerals like copper, graphite, and lithium increases, we’re facing mounting challenges in securing these resources quickly enough to support the transition to renewable energy. The Problem...

Mongolia seeks to diversify mining investors

By a program of privatisations during 2010 - including licences to develop Tavan Tolgoi, a state-owned deposit that contains more than 6 Bt of coking coal, Mongolia’s government is attempting to attract fresh foreign mining investors to balance applications of Chinese and Russian companies.

According to William MacNamara in the Financial Times, companies from the USA, India, South Korea and elsewhere represent the "commercial corollary" of Mongolia's “third neighbour” foreign policy.

The government has been expecting an investment boom since last October, when it agreed a crucial mining contract with Canada’s Ivanhoe Mines and Rio Tinto, joint venture partners. The Oyu Tolgoi investment agreement, named after the Mongolian copper-gold deposit that Rio calls the world’s best untapped copper resource, had been under negotiation since 2004.

On 23 November, Sukhbataar Batbold, prime minister, said his government will prepare state-owned enterprises owning strategic assets for IPOs on international exchanges.