Mining, renewable energy and the electric highway: Bill Johnston’s vision for Western Australia
Western Australia’s Minister for Mines and Petroleum Bill Johnston discusses the future of mining and renewable energy in the state.
In a recent interview with Small Caps, Western Australia’s Minister for Mines and Petroleum Bill Johnston shared his insights on the future of the mining industry, renewable energy projects, and the state’s ambitious electric highway development.
As the minister responsible for overseeing the growth and decarbonisation of the mining sector, Mr Johnston highlighted the increasing investments in renewable energy projects on mine sites, such as the Agnew gold mine’s 80% reduction in carbon emissions through renewable energy adoption.
Labor shortages
Mr Johnston also discussed the challenges facing the mining industry, including labour shortages and the need for skilled workers.
He explained that the government is taking action to support workforce training for new entrants and upskilling existing workers.
To attract more labour, the government is also encouraging international immigration and interstate movement to Western Australia.
Record gold sales
On the topic of gold mining, Mr Johnston expressed optimism about the industry’s future, citing record sales and new mines coming into production.
He emphasised the importance of gold mining for the Australian economy, and the government’s strong support for the gold industry due to the job creation it generates.
EV infrastructure
In terms of electric vehicle infrastructure, Mr Johnston revealed that the government is building the world’s largest electric highway, stretching from the South Australian border to Kununurra in WA’s far north.
This project aims to provide a backbone for EV charging infrastructure, ensuring that charging stations are less than 200km apart.
The electric highway is expected to promote the adoption of electric vehicles across the state and contribute to the decarbonisation of the transport sector.
Mr Johnston also discussed the importance of mining for Australia’s wealth and standard of living, and the need for better understanding and communication about the industry’s role in a zero-carbon future.
He encouraged the finance services sector to explain to their customers how critical mining is to Australia.