The University of Queensland's Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay has welcomed the Beattie Government's decision to support a $20 million sustainable mining initiative as "visionary".
The project involves the setting up of a "one-stop-shop" for the global mining industry, drawing on the university's world class expertise in mining and minerals education and research, and involving disciplines ranging from mine rehabilitation to public relations and from mine efficiency to industrial relations.
Premier Peter Beattie has announced his government intends to contribute $10 million to the project, subject to the necessary support of corporations in the sector.
Professor Hay said he was confident of gaining that support, and was deeply grateful for the support shown so far by international and local mining companies and suppliers.
"Combined with the state government's recent $10 million contribution towards supercomputing at the university, these initiatives put in place research infrastructure that will play a critical role in Queensland development," he said.
"Mining is traditionally one of the mainstays of the Queensland economy and these sustainable mining and supercomputing projects provide an important linking of the old and new economies."
The world's largest developer of high tech software products for the mining industry, Mincom, has also welcomed the initative.
Mincom Chief Executive Frank Berger said the Queensland based company was excited to be able to bring strong mining industry market penetration and expertise to this project.
'Technology needs to be researched, developed and commercialised in a profitable way so that it is widely available and economically viable,' he said.
'Mincom is dedicated to making this initiative a relevant research facility by pulling together the three main pillars of the mining industry - mining companies, technology suppliers and industry institutions to pool their resources to develop and commercialise the resultant technology.'
The sustainable mining concept is designed to reposition the mining sector by using both its current comparative advantages and the tools of 'new technology' industries.
Supercomputing, for example, is being increasingly used in the field of mine rehabilitation; technological advances in global positioning are being used in mineral exploration, while information technology is being put to use in specific areas such as e-commerce.
The $20 million mining initiative will involve the setting up of an Australian Institute for Sustainable Mining at The University of Queensland's St Lucia campus, providing a clearing house for information and knowledge and maximising UQ's mining research knowledge.
It will function is a similar way to a Collaborative Research Centre (CRC), carrying out research required by industry. A principle objective of the Institute will be to further enhance Queensland and its mining sector as a world leader in the field.
For more information contact Jan King at UQ communications on 07 3365 1120 or email us at communications@mailbox.uq.edu.au
.jpg)
