Aluminium included on Australia’s Strategic Materials List

The Australian Aluminium Council welcomes the recognition that aluminium is, and will continue to be, one of the most widely used commodities in the global net zero transition, with its inclusion in the newly announced Strategic Materials List.

This important recognition helps align Australia with our peers including Canada, USA, and Europe, who have also identified bauxite (aluminium ore) and aluminium as critical. Aluminium is also recognised by the World Bank and the International Energy Agency as one of the commodities most needed for both clean energy technologies; including solar, batteries and electric vehicles; and the construction of electricity networks; as well as in broad strategic applications.

Responding to the new list, the Council’s CEO, Marghanita Johnson, said “The Council is pleased that the Australian Government has recognised that Australia’s integrated aluminium value chain is important - not only to our domestic needs, but also to meet global demand for aluminium.”

The Council encourages the Australian Government continue to build on today’s announcement through further engagement with the aluminium sector on policy settings across its resources, climate, energy, industry, environmental and trade portfolios.

Ms Johnson particularly noted “As the Australian Government considers the reform of its environmental approvals processes, it has never been more important to achieve the appropriate balance between the need for environmental rigour with timelines needed for the transition to a net zero economy. The industry is prepared to play our part and the Council calls for approvals requirements and timings that reflect the role these Strategic Materials play in helping Australia and the world meet its net zero ambitions”.

“Under the right policy settings, the aluminium industry (bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminium smelting and downstream manufacturing) can continue to play a central role in Australia’s economy, national security and manufacturing of modern technologies. The industry will be able to continue to employ tens of thousands of Australians in high paying roles, while also meeting our domestic needs for aluminium and those of our strategic international partners in a changing geo-political landscape.”

The Council recently released a framework which further articulates the policy settings needed for the industry to be sustainable. The council states that this announcement is a first step in assigning aluminium priority status.