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Critical Energy Minerals Roadmap

Critical energy metals roadmap

Connecting our mining, manufacturing and energy sectors

This report outlines unique opportunities to optimise the connection between our mining, manufacturing and energy sectors. It identifies critical minerals that will underpin the energy transition and the value-add opportunities that exist across each of the related value chains.

Download the report

Critical skills for critical minerals

Join Team CSIRO to find, develop, mine and process critical minerals resources essential for the global transition to renewable energy, to grow our Australian economy and infrastructure in a more sustainable way

We need early to mid-career researchers in science and engineering who are passionate about creating pathways and solutions for the global energy transition, whilst reducing industrial carbon emissions in the minerals industry itself. Our critical minerals programs tackle Australian challenges in collaboration with local and overseas partners. Together, we are focussed on:

  • new ways to discover valuable critical minerals resources
  • the responsible mining and processing of critical minerals
  • sustainable benefits for local communities near operations
  • increasing the reliability and decarbonisation of critical minerals supply chains
  • powering our regions and cities with affordable and reliable renewable energy.

You may have experience in or studied geoscience (e.g. mineralogy, metamorphic petrology, geophysics, geometallurgy), geomatics, engineering (e.g. mining, civil, chemical, software), metallurgy, physics, chemistry or data science. These skills will help fuel our multidisciplinary teams to solve the following challenges:

  • exploring for new resources through cover
  • developing better ways to sort or mine ore
  • efficiently extracting minerals/metals from complex ores, while reducing waste streams.

Our critical minerals capability

Join us in our quest to accelerate the energy transition in Australia and overseas by sustainably and ethically supplying the critical minerals required in batteries, solar cells, wind turbines, and smart phones!

Discovery and characterisation

Our Discovery Program consists of approximately 90 employees working on Whadjuk, Bunurong, Guringai, Gameraygal Country (Perth, Melbourne, Sydney).

Mineral processing

CSIRO’s Mineral Processing R&D Program consists of approximately 100 employees working on Whadjuk, Turrbal and Bunurong Country (Perth, Brisbane, and Melbourne).

Sensing and sorting

Our Sensing and Sorting Program, predominantly based at Lucas Heights on Dharawal Country, develops advanced X-ray, radio frequency and other sensing methods for real time analysis of elements and minerals.

Sustainable mining technology

Based in Brisbane, CSIRO’s Sustainable Mining Technologies Program is the nation's largest mining research concentration in Australia.

Resourceful - features on critical minerals

What is a critical metal

Fashionable as it might be to talk about critical metals in a world migrating towards a clean-energy future it is equally important to ask why some metals are considered critical and others not.

Brief history of critical minerals

They are the very definition of a modern hot commodity. JANE NICHOLLS reports on how governments decide what minerals are added to the critical minerals list, and why it’s a brilliant opportunity for the Australian resources industry.

Certifying future minerals trade

Soon after Russia invaded Ukraine, a team from Everledger—the commercial company that was first to track the world’s diamonds—got together. Over the space of a weekend, they updated their platform to allow their clients to choose to exclude diamonds within their network originating from or passing through Russia. TIM THWAITES reports

Critical minerals for energy transition

CSIRO experts explain the roadblocks, the challenges and the opportunities that Australia’s resources sector will face, in the fast-shifting market for the metals that play a vital role in the worldwide transition to renewable energy. FRAN MOLLOY investigates

Mineral exploration to secure green energy future

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, estimates more than AUD$5 trillion of metals will be needed by 2050 to construct technologies for the green energy transition. Of that, over half is slated to come from critical minerals. DIANA TAYLOR reports

Value adding to tech metals

Australia has the ingredients to be a leader in the world’s energy transition, but it can also be compared to a well-stocked kitchen in need of a chef with a recipe to combine the raw materials in a practical and profitable way. TIM TREADGOLD reports

Graphite battery anodes

Most of us become familiar with graphite as early as primary school: it’s what you find running through the core of a pencil. This soft, lightweight mineral made of carbon has dozens of other important uses though. It’s a key component of brakes, lubricants, fire retardants, inks, electronics and - most crucially - batteries. RUTH DAWKINS writes

Critical energy metal demand

It's become clear that the global transition to clean energy will need a lot of metal. For example, annual demand for battery metals – like lithium and cobalt – is expected to increase by over 450 per cent by 2050. By JERAD FORD and JIM WEST

New indicator minerals in the nickel hunt

Finding the next Kambalda, home of Australia’s sulfide nickel mining industry, will be a lot harder than the original discovery, but to aid the process a new indicator mineral exploration technique is emerging from CSIRO research. TIM TREADGOLD reports

Securing the mineral supply for batteries

The batteries powering a decarbonised world will need millions of tonnes of minerals to make them, and yet many suitable resources are scarce. Manganese has emerged as a suitable and plentiful battery metal resource, but where are the best fit-for-purpose deposits? CSIRO researchers are working to discover the answers.

Using microbes to mine metals from e-waste

Whether it’s rare earths used in new renewable power and energy storage technologies, certain metals are critical in the transition to a high-tech, low carbon economy. Biomining could help Australia reclaim some of these. MARY-LOU CONSIDINE explores

Lab22 and critical minerals

CSIRO established Lab22 with a vision to grow a new manufacturing industry as Australia’s Centre for Additive Innovation. From day one, critical minerals have been key. JANE NICHOLLS reports

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