b'Canberra observed new proposals are under investigationcontribute about $20 billion in marketfirst break in this sequence. It is below the (SMH, Jan 8-9). These applications appearvalue to the ASX, with Pilbara Mineralstop two producers, Russia with 331t and to be incompatible with NSWs netcurrently in the top 50 companies. China with 368 t (https://www.gold.org/zero greenhouse gas targets, and willgoldhub/data/historical-mine-production).generate about 1.8 billion tonnes of CO 2 2021 in review: How did the if all projects are approved. But moneyresource companies fare? As you can see in Table 1, the petroleum has power. companies are recovering nicely from the The price of the commodities affects the2020 disaster year. The oil price is continuing to recover, fromperformance of our resource companies. a monthly low in of $US17/bl in April 2020,Table 1 shows how the value of the mainYancoal remains the only coal only to $US80/bl at the end of 2021. resource-based companies in the top 150company in the top 150 and did better in ASX fared during 2021. 2020. However, with increasing pressure 2021 in review: Critical Minerals andto cut greenhouse gas emissions and the The numbers in the table are in $Aglobal shortage of thermal coal the long-Clean Energy Transitions billions. The percentage changes interm future of coal mining is uncertain.The importance of key metals in themarket value during 2021 are shown, transformation to clean energy madeas well as how these changes compareThe Government still hates a big impact during 2021. The relevantwith the 2020 results. The companies minerals are mainly copper, lithium,are grouped according to their mainuniversitiesnickel, cobalt and the rare earthcommodity interest. The three largestIn December 2021, Stuart Robert, the elements. They will be needed for electriccompanies relied on iron ore prices. NoteActing Minister for Education and Youth, vehicles, batteries, wind farms, solarhow their value fell. delivered a bombshell to the Australian panels etc. The gold sector was less affected by theResearch Council (ARC).The International Energy Agency recentlygold price decline because although theThe ARC administers the National produced a special report on Criticalprice has fallen steadily since AugustCompetitive Grants Program, which Minerals and Clean Energy Transitions2020, it only amounted to about 5%invests about $800 million a year in the (https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role- during 2021 and most companies didhighest-quality fundamental and applied of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy- well last year. research across all disciplines other than transitions). It is recommended readingAustralian annual gold production hasclinical and medical research, which is for all geophysicists working in thegradually increased from the 250 tonnesfunded through the National Health and mineral industries. in 2012 to the record 325 tonnes in 2019.Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Most It turns out that a typical electric carThe 2020 number of 320 tonnes was theof these funds are allocated to universities.requires six times the mineral inputs of a conventional car, and an onshore windTable 1.Market capital changes in the value of the top 150 ASX listed resource-plant requires nine times more mineralbased companies in 2021.resources than a gas-fired power plant.Market capital changes for 2021The production of many energy transition minerals today is moreJan 2021 Dec 2021 Change % % in 2020geographically concentrated than thatBHP 137.482 122.435 -11 +9of oil or natural gas, consequently theFortescue 78.020 59.146 -24 +115supply chains could be more vulnerable.Rio 46.034 37.162 -20 +12The IEA estimated that the demand for lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earthsYancoal 3.287 3.411 +4 -17will increase by a factor of three by 2040, if we are to meet the Paris Agreement goals. Furthermore, the discovery,Woodside 21.881 21.264 -3 -33extraction and processing must be doneSantos 13.060 21.371 +64 -25to meet higher environmental standards,Origin 9.017 9.228 +2 -45because humans are inhabiting more and more of the earths surface and weOil Search 7.708 8.394 +9 -33must try not to generate unnecessaryBeach 4.117 2.90 -30 -31pollution.The opportunities are huge, and they areNewcrest 21.050 20.023 -5 -8here now. Evolution Min 6.363 8.526 +34 +34At the start of 2021, Iluka and Lynas wereOz Minerals 6.254 9.415 +51 +81the only two companies in the top 150Northern Star 9.402 10.958 +17 +15companies on the ASX focusing on rare earths and battery minerals. At the endAll Ords 6851 7779 +14 -1of 2021 four more companies joined theMarket Capital 369.72 379.87 +3 +10club (Challis Gold, Nickel Mines, Liontown Resources and Pilbara Minerals). TheyIron 0re +other Coal Petroleum Gold27 PREVIEW FEBRUARY 2022'