Four Corners: Digging In (ABC TV Mon 9 May 2022)

On Four Corners next Monday…

“It’s absolutely ironic. But to save the planet, we are going to need more mines.” Government geoscientist

Around Australia new mining operations are being established and old sites, shuttered decades ago, are being brought back to life. These miners aren’t digging for coal or gold, they’re hunting for other lucrative commodities – known as critical minerals.

“Critical minerals (are) everything you use for electric vehicles, for transport, for manufacturing. We’re really at the start of what could be a new mining boom.” Minerals lobbyist

If you own a mobile phone, if you power your home with renewable energy or drive an electric vehicle, then these minerals are already playing a key part in your life. And they will play a vital role in all our futures. But there is a hidden cost?

“We have to decide as a country. How valuable is a place and is it worth risking for mining?” Research scientist

On Monday Four Corners investigates the new critical minerals mining boom and finds Australia is in the box seat to exploit a surge in worldwide demand.

“Australia is still the luckiest country. Last century we were the luckiest because we had all the coal and a huge amount of natural gas… what we know the future needs is things that Australia also has in spades.” US energy policy adviser

From lithium mines in WA and the NT, to cobalt operations in NSW and tin mining in Tasmania, these critical minerals are not just making major profits, they’re playing a part in the super power rivalry between America and China.

“China has always known the value of critical minerals. We are moving into a period now of geopolitical competition, everybody is looking for leverage. The Chinese are quite explicit about that.” China analyst

With China dominating the control and supply of these critical minerals, many nations are keeping a close eye on Australia’s mining operations in the hope of breaking China’s dominance.

“We have met with heads of state, senior cabinet officials and global businesses…They all want to break this stranglehold.” Mining CEO

But environmentalists are concerned that hard fought environmental protections are being put at risk in this new type of gold rush.

“It’s not saving the planet. That’s ridiculous. That is green spin, green extractivism, coming out of the mining industry.” Environment activist

This fascinating film reveals the tensions, and the big decisions Australia will have to make to enable the production of these vital minerals without inflicting further harm on our increasingly fragile environment.

“It’s a confounding issue for the environmental movement. There’s absolutely no doubt that we have to move to mining of critical minerals, if we are going to address the climate crisis… At the same time, we need to be absolutely sure that we are not repeating the mistakes of the past.” Environment lawyer

Airdate: Monday 9 May 2022 at 8.30pm on ABC TV.