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...

China leases North Korean east coast port

The Peoples Republic of China has acquired a 10-year lease of Rajin port on the east coast of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, potentially increasing shipping access to the Sea of Japan, the governor of the Yanbian prefecture in Jilin province, which borders North Korea, told China News Service.

Li Longxi said the lease would help the province ship coal to southern China and Japan, easing transport bottlenecks.

Rajin is the largest port in Rason, also known as Rajin-Songbong, which North Korea designated as a free trade zone in 1991, and has access to rail lines to Russia and China. The lease would give Chinese shippers access to the Sea of Japan, a goal that motivated a project to develop the mouth of the Tumen River into a free trade zone operated jointly by China, Russia and North Korea, still mired in the planning stages.