Critical minerals are essential for the global energy transition and defence systems, yet a staggering 70% of these resources are not being developed. We face a development challenge that has left us in paralysis. To extract these minerals fast, we have two choices: fascism or radical democracy.

 

Today, many traditional miners and governments are leaning towards fascism. As Donald Trump boldly advocates for a “drill, drill, drill” approach, he proposes using the military to protect oilmen and miners from public protest. This extraction at any cost strategy could polarise and divide communities further.

 

Spektrum Mining’s Executive Chair, Katherine Teh, advocates for how radical democracy can deliver faster sustainable mines in a way that builds peace. The approach involves working directly with Indigenous communities, farmers, and activists to co-create mineral development projects that prioritize human rights, environmental stewardship, and economic benefits in a way that optimises mineral extraction and enables speedier regulatory approval.

 

To deliver this vision it needs to foster “public interest capitalism” to demonstrate that mineral development can serve broader societal needs and we’re interested in the aid sector’s view about how to make this happen.