Mining and net zero might seem incongruous, but actually the world’s energy transition depends upon what we dig out of the ground. Every battery, solar farm, transmission network and electric vehicle requires critical minerals – and Australia has an abundance of these raw materials.

In this episode, Ashurst Perkins Coie’s Elena Lambros and Dan Brown are joined by colleague Ratha Nabanidham, a partner who advises clients in the energy, mining and infrastructure sectors. Together, they unpack what “mining our way to net zero” really means – and how Australia can secure, produce and process critical minerals at sufficient speed and scale.

Ratha offers an insider’s view on the sheer volume of raw materials required for the energy transition and tackles the tension between public support for clean energy and local resistance to new mines. The trio also explore the economic opportunity in processing – not just extracting – critical minerals, and the geopolitical dynamics at play. It’s a timely discussion as Australia works alongside partners including the US and Japan to secure supply chains.

The episode brings home the fact that getting minerals out of the ground is just the start; the real challenge is building the infrastructure and supply chains to turn the raw materials into the products the energy transition needs.

Check out past and future episodes of Nearing Net Zero on the Ashurst Perkins Coie website. And subscribe to ESG Matters by Ashurst Perkins Coie wherever you get your podcasts.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in law or practice, or to cover every aspect of the topics discussed. Listeners should obtain legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.