The abhorrent situation in Ukraine is a reminder to speak up and to speak out. Sometimes I think that all the resource industries feel intimidated - hesitant to speak out firmly due to the fear of repercussions: by the media, by politicians, by those with the power to permit. Too many times energy, mining, and others are faced by those who believe - often sincerely - that they possess the “moral high ground”. Too often they are also funded and encouraged by background interests with competing financial and political goals.
For several decades the West has had vociferous groups that proclaim most natural resources and the industries that provide them are not only obsolete, but dangerous, unnecessary, and mostly irrelevant to the new humans that are “connected globalists”. This is a false narrative. One of the most insightful methods for studying geopolitics and the shifting balances and rising tensions between nations can be attained by understanding energy and mining. Monumental strategic, economic and military decisions made by countries such as China and Russia often hinge on the importance of access to resources.
While many have heard about rare earths needed to run their electric cars, cell phones and laptops, few know that it will take commodities such as copper and nickel to manufacture the next generation technology products. Nor do they seem to know they can cross off airline or ship travel or even dental implants without access to titanium. Steel needs iron ore, agriculture potash, and roofing requires zinc. Mining is ahead of other industries in using autonomous vehicles and AI technologies, and research into carbon capture has advanced to the point where enzymes are converting carbon dioxide into fuel.
Aggregates and ready-mix supply our entire built environment (in addition to innumerable other products), protect our natural environment and are absolutely critical to our safety, security, and economy.
The tragic events in the Ukraine should remind us that countries will continue to determine their futures substantially by access to natural resources - even if that means taking them by force. Let this be a learning opportunity to those who may be innocently misguided, but put the security, safety, and economies of their communities and countries at risk.