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“Three years ago, Australia had more than 50% of the world’s lithium production, but not anymore,” Climate Energy Finance (CEF) director and former Citigroup managing director Tim Buckley told Paydirt. “This globally dominant position has been eroded significantly. By the start of 2026, domestic mines in China produce more than Australia and I tracked 15 other countries where China has invested in spodumene mines.” The CEF report found China’s investment in clean energy technology and its associated value chain has been pronounced, spending more than $US120 billion on upstream mining and processing projects since 2023 and more than $US220 billion on midstream and downstream cleantech manufacturing and renewables infrastructure in the same period. In the same period, Chinese investment into Australia has collapsed by 85%. Read more

Australia’s AU$50 billion (US$34 billion) annual dependence on imported oil and diesel has become a critical vulnerability that could paradoxically accelerate the nation’s battery storage and renewable energy transformation, according to Tim Buckley, founder and director of Climate Energy Finance. Speaking on the sidelines of the Energy Storage Summit Australia 2026 in Sydney, Buckley warns that recent geopolitical developments, including China’s announcement that it would halt refined oil product exports and escalating US-Iran tensions, have exposed the fragility of Australia’s energy security and created an urgent case for domestic investment in clean energy infrastructure. Read more

There is no such lack of cleantech ambition by the mining magnates’ large customers in China, however. As energy analyst Tim Buckley puts it, the “carnage unleashed by the US-Iran conflict has exposed the fragility – and concentration – of global fossil fuel supply chains”. “ … China is sticking to its script; staying clear of the fray and branding itself as the steady alternative to an unpredictable America. In doing so, it is weaponising its cleantech supremacy as the ultimate tool of green soft power. China has spent years pursuing its ‘self-sufficiency’ drive and electrifying its economy, says Buckley. It has spent more than $US220B building cleantech manufacturing, grids and energy infrastructure overseas since 2023, “and another $US120B securing critical minerals, strategic metals and upstream processing”. Read more

As heard in an interview on ABC Radio National, the US consideration of action against Iran and signals from Donald Trump over oil control could advantage China, which buys over 80% of Iranian crude and maintains key supply routes. Speaking at the Boao Forum, Tim Buckley highlighted the importance of energy security and long-term planning. Despite heavy coal use, China leads in renewables, batteries and EVs, exporting globally, and is positioning itself as a reliable partner shaping future energy systems. Read more

The host venue of the Boao Forum for Asia has already gone zero-carbon. Longtime observers of Asia’s green transition, Rebecca Mikula Wright and Tim Buckley, highlighted how bringing policymakers, investors and industry together can accelerate the shift. Read more

China has spent years obsessively pursuing its “self-sufficiency” drive and electrifying its economy. It has spent more than $US220 billion ($316 million) building out cleantech manufacturing, grids and energy infrastructure overseas since 2023, and another $US120 billion securing critical minerals and upstream processing, according to Climate Energy Finance. This has laid the foundations of a fully integrated global supply chain stretching from mines to electric vehicles. Read more

The US/Israel war on Iran is the latest geopolitical disruption to trigger a domestic cost-of-living crisis. Petrol and diesel prices are soaring, and the pain is spreading through mortgage rates, grocery bills, and falling super balances as markets slumps. This is no longer just a pump-price issue; it is a systemic shock to the Australian economy, repeating the fossil fuel hyperinflationary hit we all collectively suffered with Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It is time for Australia to focus and value energy independence. Read more

Climate Energy Finance’s (CEF) report, titled ‘Raw Power: China locks-in global dominance of critical minerals and metals with $120bn outbound investment surge’, confirmed that the world’s decarbonisation leader has locked in dominance over the critical minerals and metals essential for the zero-emissions economy. This is in addition to a US$220 billion invested in downstream cleantech manufacturing, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries, creating a vertically integrated global green industrial strategy. Read more

Highlights – Draft AER Default Market Offer Brilliant to see the Australian Energy Regulator has today flagged draft default market offer (DMO) electricity pricing down ⬇️ 1% to ⏬ 10% for residential consumers, and between ⬇️ 8% to ⏬ 21% for small business consumers The DMO sets an efficiently priced safety-net for households and small businesses on standing offer electricity plans and acts as a reference price to help consumers compare market offers. This is the draft ruling, with the final ruling released May 2026 for effect for the 12 months starting 1 July 2026. This is consistent with Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)’s quarterly energy dynamics highlighting Australia hit a record high 51% RenewableEnergy share in the 4QCY2025, and wholesale electricity prices fell by >40% yoy as a result. Read more

In a LinkedIn post on Monday, Climate Energy Finance founder and director Tim Buckley said it was “brilliant” to see the WA government “stepping up to enable and crowd-in private capital to regional areas, creating low cost decarbonised Australian energy to build our energy independence.” “A lot more speed and scale needed, but we are making good progress.” Read more

China has invested more than $120 billion in overseas mining and upstream processing since 2023, accelerating a state-backed push to secure the raw materials underpinning the global energy transition, says Australian think tank Climate Energy Finance (CEF). A study published last week reveals that China’s spending targeted a wide range of commodities — including lithium, copper, nickel, rare earths and bauxite — that are essential for electric vehicles, renewable power and industrial decarbonization. Read more

The think tank Climate Energy Finance (CEF) from Australia released these findings in a report last week. Researchers from this organisation documented the flow of capital from firms into mines and factories. These experts describe the approach as a coordinated effort to secure resources for decades. Tim Buckley co-authored the report and serves as the founder of CEF. He notes that the model of investment has changed to include collaboration with host governments. This shift addresses previous concerns regarding the extraction of wealth without local benefit. Read more