Diggers and Dealers panel questions Australia's energy future and emissions target

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Federal Resources Minister is optimistic the mining industry will continue to adapt and invest in renewable technologies as part of the shift to net zero by 2050. Questions about whether renewables can replace fossil fuels have been front and centre at the annual Diggers and Dealers forum in Western Australia's Goldfields.

Transcript

00:00The Diggers and Dealers conference began with a warning about Australia's energy future.

00:09Delegates told net zero by 2050 won't be possible.

00:13If we subscribe to a collective delusion, and not just an overly ambitious goal, but frankly an impossible goal,

00:19it doesn't result in optimal policy outcomes.

00:22Mining has been built on the back of heavy machinery powered by fossil fuels.

00:28The push towards net zero has seen the introduction of electric machinery,

00:33and lithium and gold miners in WA are stepping up their use of renewables to replace diesel generators.

00:40For remote mine sites, renewable makes good economic sense as well.

00:45But technological hurdles remain a key sticking point to the net zero goal.

00:50I'd like to think we can get to net zero in a commercially savvy way.

00:54This concentrated solar thermal though still has some ways to be developed.

00:59So we want to get there of course, but we want to do it in a commercially savvy way.

01:03And despite the gloomy outlook for reaching net zero emissions from keynote speakers,

01:09the Federal Government says it's still committed.

01:12I don't mind people having their opinion. I don't share that opinion.

01:15My opinion is we should strive for net zero by 2050.

01:18I know it's the State Government's ambition, it sure is the Federal Government's ambition.

01:23The Government hopes all the miners in this room will help get them there.

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