Red Tape Delays Mining Projects as Just 9 of 80 Copper Mines on Track for Net Zero

Tania Constable, CEO of the Minerals Council of Australia, says the industry has been bogged down by too much government red tape and not enough support for supply chains to help meet Australia’s net zero targets. Speakers at Australia’s largest mining event, the International Mining and Resources Conference and Expo (IMARC), shared similar views on the issue on Oct. 29. Constable cited the International Energy Agency’s 2021 assessment, which stated that 260 new mines for copper, nickel, lithium, and cobalt were needed by 2030 to meet demand for electric vehicles and batteries. Yet, progress is slow. Investment in mining is also on the decline, with a projected 5.2 percent drop in capital expenditure this year....