Australia: The Australian Aluminium Council has urged the Federal Government to include Bauxite, Alumina, and Aluminum on the nation's list of essential minerals. These minerals are essential for a range of industries in Australia and must be prioritized if the country is to remain competitive in international markets.

“Aluminium is, and will continue to be, one of the most widely used commodities in the global clean energy transition,” the AAC’s incoming president Mike Ferraro stated.

“To capitalize on the nation’s abundance of these commodities and to position Australia as a supplier of choice, they need to be recognized as critical minerals.”

Aluminium, lead, and zinc are essential to Australia's decarbonization efforts, according to the Australian Aluminium Council (AAC).

Marghanita Johnson, Chief of AAC, highlighted that at 85%, Aluminium makes up most of the weight in solar panels. She also noted that it is an important factor in improving fuel efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in transport.

The Federal Government recently announced the inclusion of high-purity Alumina and silica on its Critical Minerals Strategy of 2022, as both are essential components in the electronics industry. However, Bauxite and Aluminium, despite being included in the lists of critical minerals for Canada, the US and Europe, remain absent from this strategy.

The Australian Critical Minerals Facility, a $2 billion fund, may soon provide support to relevant resources companies. This move is not only meant to give Aluminium more prominence in policy debates, but also to ensure all types of products gain access to federal support funds.

“In addition to contributing to a decarbonized economy through our products, the Aluminium industry is investing in the transition to net-zero through the development of new technologies to decarbonize our processes,” Ferraro stated.

“The scale of the investment required to decarbonize is substantial and will require input from a range of stakeholders including government.

“Decarbonizing Australia’s electricity supply is the biggest opportunity to support the transition in the next decade.”