Queensland Resources Minister, Scott Stewart, is set to lead a delegation of more than 20 international investors and resources leaders on a tour of regional Queensland in order to showcase the potential of the state’s critical minerals sector.
The tour will take the delegates – who were in Brisbane for the World Mining Congress, which was held in Australia for the first time from 26-29 June – through Mt Isa, Cloncurry and Townsville.
The Queensland Government has released a new strategy to oversee a $245 million investment that will position Queensland as a global leader in delivering the critical minerals the world needs to move to a net zero emissions future.
Mr Stewart said there has been an overwhelming amount of interest from international investors and resources companies in the potential of establishing projects in Queensland.
“I’m proud to be leading a tour of North Queensland which will showcase the opportunities on offer, from mine pit to product in our region,” Mr Stewart said.
“From Mt Isa to Cloncurry, to Townsville, delegates will get a chance to see the best Queensland’s geology and geography have to offer.
“Queensland has some of the world’s richest mineral-producing areas with an estimated $500 billion of critical minerals in North Queensland alone.
“The Queensland Critical Mineral Strategy is about not just mining the raw materials but also being able to process and manufacture the minerals the world needs right here in Queensland.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to show the world that Queensland truly is the land of resource opportunity.”
Tour delegate and Professor at the University of Utah, Rajive Ganguli, said he hoped to see how mining used to be done, especially in places like Mt Isa.
“It’s in the mining textbooks so it’s exciting for me to actually be there and to see it,” Mr Ganguli said.
“From a mining investment perspective Australia is always a great location, but with Queensland specifically, you have the right mix of deposits, people and knowledge to address things as they come up and lead the world.
“Because of the partnership between the state, universities and industry, a lot of chess pieces are in place here so I expect Queensland to contribute quite a bit.”
