Rare earths race dominates talk at Australia's Diggers and Dealers mining forum
Thousands of mining industry figures gathered for the Diggers and Dealers forum in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, with the struggle for control of the global rare earths market front of mind. Attendees stressed that cooperation across the industry is critical for future growth.
Thousands of mining executives, investors and geologists gathered in Kalgoorlie, in Western Australia's Goldfields region, for the opening day of the annual Diggers and Dealers forum, where the global struggle for control of the rare earths market topped the agenda.
Speakers emphasized that diversifying supply chains and strengthening cooperation among Western nations were essential to counter the current concentration of dominance in critical minerals. Rare earth elements are used in everything from electric vehicles to defense technologies.
Industry figures said Australia, with its substantial mineral reserves, could play a significant role in the race, but argued that faster investment and regulatory support were needed to bring new projects online. The forum continues through the week.
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