Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King will travel to Europe and the United Kingdom to promote Australia as a reliable supplier of critical minerals to support global efforts to reach net zero. 

Minister King will hold bilateral talks with ministerial counterparts from Germany, the EU, France and the UK, and will take part in the inaugural International Energy Agency (IEA) Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Summit on September 28 in Paris.

Talks will involve industry representatives from across Europe and the UK, including Europe’s automotive industry, which will need more critical minerals to manufacture electric vehicles.

“Australia has the critical minerals the world needs to help lower emissions and we have well established export supply chains built over decades through our iron ore and gas industries,” Minister King said.

“Australia’s resources sector also has high environmental and social governance standards (ESG), and a global reputation as a stable and reliable export partner.

“I released Australia’s new Critical Minerals Strategy in June, which lays out Australia’s support for the industry and our plan to become a globally significant supplier of critical minerals by 2030.”

The visit to Europe and the UK will be a chance to outline how Australia is working with the sector and cooperating with international partners to diversify global supply chains and support investment in the mining and processing of key critical minerals.

“The world’s clean energy transition will ride on the back of Australia’s critical minerals,” Minister King said.

“Critical minerals are crucial components of clean energy technologies such as batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage, as well as for wind farms and solar panels.”

Australia is the world’s leading producer of unprocessed lithium, the world’s third largest cobalt exporter and the fourth-largest exporter of rare earths. Australia is also the fourth largest exporter of mined copper and nickel and a significant producer of aluminium.

The IEA meeting in Paris will provide opportunities for discussions with IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol and other ministers.