Speaker: Dr Joaquin Vespignani

Abstract: This seminar will present on the first economic theory of critical minerals for energy transition. This theory posits that back-ended critical mineral projects that have unaddressed  technical and nontechnical barriers, exhibit an additional risk for investors which is termed the "back-ended risk premium". The back-ended risk premium increases the cost of capital and therefore, has the potential to reduce investment in the sector, however, the back-ended risk premium may also reduce the gains in productivity expected from artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the mining sector. Progress in AI may lessen the back-ended risk premium itself through shortening the duration of mining projects and the required rate of investment through reducing the associated risk. The seminar will cover our conclusion that the best way to reduce costs associated with energy transition is for governments to invest heavily in AI mining technologies and research.

Bio:  Dr Joaquin Vespignani is an Associate Professor of Economics and Finance at the University of Tasmania. With a PhD in Economics from the University of New South Wales and over 20 years of experience in macroeconomic forecasting and macro-energy, he specialises in applied macroeconomics and energy transition and the economics of critical mineral. Joaquin has published extensively in high-impact journals and serves on multiple advisory panels, including the Australian Treasury’s Macroeconomic Expert Panel. He is also the Co-Founder and Program Director of the Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis at ANU and a Research Associate at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

About JKMRC Friday Seminars 2024

Welcome to the 2024 Series of the JKMRC Friday Seminars.  The list of presentations will aim to cover a range of topics related to the minerals sector from decision making in exploration, new mineral processing technologies, social licence to operate and mine closure.

The JKMRC Friday Seminars will be presented often in person, at the Indooroopilly Mine Site Lecture Theatre, and also as webinar.  Registration for the webinar is required and can be made via the registration link in each seminar overview.

A large number of past webinars can be accessed on the SMI website: https://smi.uq.edu.au/webinars

Previous seminars have been uploaded to YouTube via the following link: https://www.youtube.com/user/smiuq

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Venue

Indooroopilly Mine Site
40 Isles Road
Indooroopilly QLD 4068
Room: 
Lecture Theatre

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