CMC’s Alignment to Monash’s Strategic Plan, Impact 2030

The Monash-led Critical Minerals Consortium (CMC) is concerned with improving the understanding of minerals' criticality and providing advice and expertise to policymakers and industry. A critical mineral is a mineral for which there is a significant risk of supply disruption and for which the impact of such a disruption would be great. Two of the most common causes of minerals criticality are geopolitical risks associated with a geographic concentration of supply, and expanding demand for a wide range of minerals to support the transition to renewable energy and changing defence requirements. Therefore, by addressing minerals criticality, the CMC is contributing directly to the world’s ability to address climate change and to improve geopolitical security. The activities of the CMC are directly aligned to, and also inform the Federal Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy. CMC works in partnership and collaborates extensively with a number of researchers from India, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.

We also contribute to thriving communities through economic development. The solution to minerals criticality is very often a diversification of supply, and Australia will play a critical role in this diversification, since the Australian continent is host to a vast range of critical minerals. The modern mining industry in Australia is overwhelmingly committed to the International Council or Mining and Metals principles which focus on improving values for all stakeholders, including communities and the environment. Monash makes a direct contribution to environmental outcomes through the CMC’s sister groups the Tailings Group, and the Mine Rehabilitation Group. Recently published research by the CMC’s Tim Werner confirms a positive correlation between mining and human development.