The New Zealand government recently released its mineral and oil resources strategy 2019-2029, which highlights the importance of the mining and oil sectors to the country's goal of transitioning to a low-emission economy.

According to the document, the island nation may soon begin exploring opportunities to meet its domestic and international needs. Global demand for cleantech minerals such as cobalt and lithium.

"As the energy system changes, we also need to ensure that we have the necessary minerals, such as rare earths, to produce the technologies needed to drive future development. To address these challenges, the mineral and oil sectors need to plan immediately to build a more productive, sustainable and inclusive economy."

In addition to battery metals and rare earth elements, the proposal acknowledges the need for fossil fuels and base metals. "We need to make sure we have the necessary aggregate (rubble and gravel) or alternative alternative materials to build the foundations of houses and roads. We need coal to make the steel our cities need, but we should start looking at alternatives to steel production to reduce the environmental impact."

The paper stressed the importance of protecting the environment and properly consulted the communities surrounding the mining project and indigenous communities whose heritage might be affected by extractive activities.

In this regard, the strategy provides some principles to guide mining operations. That is, it requires miners to make continuous improvements in health and safety and to seek innovative ways to improve the resource efficiency of mining operations while minimizing their negative impacts.

Where impacts cannot be avoided, industry is required to work with stakeholders and implement management systems to understand and manage the negative impacts of its operations and to realize remedial opportunities.

The New Zealand government says it plans to achieve these ambitious goals by modernizing the royal minerals act. Ensuring affordable resources to meet the country's mineral and energy needs; Improving treaty partnerships and stakeholder and community participation; Improve industry compliance; Promote research and investment to better exploit and utilize resources.

Industry cautious

In response to the strategy, Straterra, a New Zealand mining sector trade group, issued a communique saying its members "cautiously welcome" the document.

Although the organization commended the strategy for recognizing the importance of minerals to society and for expressing its willingness to work with the sector, it lamented the fact that the strategy remained the administration's support for the "no new mines in protected lands" policy. The proposed law was announced in 2017, shortly after prime minister Jacinda Ardern came to power, but it has yet to take effect.

"The resource sector faces many reforms aimed at improving environmental outcomes. The reality is that many of these reforms will only result in reduced or zero investment." "Said Chris Baker, Straterra's chief executive, in a statement. "We hope that this resource strategy will somehow affect the balance needed for these reforms to achieve better environmental outcomes and attract more responsible investment." (From CCMN)