HIGHLIGHTS: PRESIDENT BIDEN TALKS OF THE ENERGY TRANSITION BUT HIS POLICIES DO NOT ENCOURAGE DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEEDED CRITICAL MINERALS. ISSUES AFFECTING MINERALS ARE NOW BECOMING GLOBALIZED. MODERATOR: KAREN MATTHIAS, Executive Director, Alaska Metal Mines PANEL: n LANCE MILLER, Vice President of Natural Resources, NANA n JOHN SHIVELY, Chairman & CEO, Pebble Partnership n BRETT WATSON, Economist, Institute of Economic & Social Research n DEANTHA SKIBINSKI, Executive Director, Alaska Miners Association KEY POINTS: n Alaska needs to process minerals in-state n Copper important: 20 percent supply deficit in 2035 n Gold not just for jewelry – wide uses in industry n Biden Administration talks mineral supply chain issues but it’s just that – talk DISCUSSION: Brett Watson said there is sometimes confusion over which minerals are “critical,” but the designations are important because they influence agency decisions on research and support for infrastructure. John Shively said while copper is not designated as “critical” it is crucial in technology applications, like cell phones, and the world is headed for a supply deficit as early as 2027 and estimated to reach 20% by 2025. The industry needs $100 billion in investment to meet needs. “We have a problem,” Shively said. Deantha Skibinski said the anti-mining narrative is: “We don’t need more gold,” or gold mines, to make more jewelry. Today gold important in many industries but it is often found in association with critical minerals like antimony. Often the gold becomes an “anchor” mineral in a mine that can also produce antimony, Skibinski said. “You often need a gold producer to make production of other metals economic,” she said. Many gold mines also produce zinc. A major problem for the industry is being able to get federal permits. The Biden administration talks a lot about problems in the mineral supply chain but actions on permits by agencies are creating more problems, particular for domestic production. “The Biden Administration is now starting to ‘walk back’ the earlier approvals of the Ambler Road, as an example,” Skibinski said. Another example, she said, is the recent removal of the minerals sector from the “FAST 41” act, a law that streamlines federal permitting on important projects. Shively said the same permitting problems that affect the U.S. mining industry are now showing up in Canada. Part of this is because there are First Nation issues but also that things are just taking longer. Lance Miller said many issues affecting mining are becoming globalized and cropping up in many countries. The industry’s response in many cases is to start earlier on permits to allow for delays, but this can sometimes work against a developer. “Sometimes we can start too early and before we know what a project will really look like,” he said. That could lead to concerns raised in local communities before the company or agencies have all the information. Shively said opponents to mining often complain about It being an “extractive” industry. But many Alaska industries and activities are extractive, he said. Even subsistence. “We’ve become really good at stopping things,” through the federal permit system. “You have to wonder how we’ll ever get anything done?” — COMPILED BY TIM BRADNER WILL ALASKA LEAD ON NATIONAL MINERAL SECURITY? 18 ALASKA RESOURCE REVIEW WINTER 2024
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