A new University of Queensland research facility will prove that greener mining operations can be more productive.
The $16M Mineral Characterisation Research Facility at The University of Queensland’s Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) will spearhead world-first research into more effective resource processing.
The facility, to be housed in the Alban Lynch Building in recognition of the JKMRC’s founding Director Emeritus Professor Alban Lynch, will continue UQ’s groundbreaking work in mineral characterisation and separation.
Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development Andrew Fraser said the Queensland Government had provided $6.1M towards the construction of the facility through its Innovation Building Fund. This is a dedicated fund established in the early days of the Smart State Strategy to support the construction of new or refurbished research facilities in Queensland.
“This is an exciting development for Queensland and UQ’s Sustainable Minerals Institute which is already a strong international hub for mining research,” Mr Fraser said.
“The MCRF aims to increase the state’s metal production by two per cent and cut mining electricity use by one per cent – that translates to increasing exports by $255 million and decreasing carbon emissions from electricity production by 427,000 tonnes.
“Here is where we can offer solutions to industry on a global scale and of course lead the world in using them to create more cost effective and sustainable operations.”
Mr Fraser said the facility would create 13 full time jobs and at least 10 new research posts.
“This has been a wise investment for Queensland – our mining and petroleum industries contributed roughly 20 per cent to the State’s economic output in 08/09 and help provide some 40,000 direct and 160,000 indirect jobs in regional and outback Queensland,” he said.
“Innovation remains critical to taking these industries forward.”
The Director of the JKMRC, Dr Geoff Gault, said that the Centre was a recognised global leader in the development and application of innovative mineral characterisation methodologies.
"The new Mineral Characterisation Research Facility provides the platform for this research to continue to expand and to create industry-transforming technologies,” he said.
Media contacts: Treasurer's office - 3224 5982 or 3224 6361; Tara Young at the Sustainable Minerals Institute 0408 159 805 or Jan King (UQ) 3365 1120, 0413 601 248.
