OPINION by Minister for Resources, Scott Stewart
London, Madrid, Stockholm, Rio de Janeiro. They are not just Olympic cities.
They have also hosted one of the world’s biggest resource industry events and next week it will be Brisbane’s turn to host the World Mining Congress.
More than 3000 delegates from more than 50 countries will make Brisbane and Queensland their base for the World Mining Congress.
It’s the first time in its 65-year history the event is being held in Australia. And what better place to host the event than Brisbane. Where else but Queensland!
Queensland’s resources sector has a proud history that has underpinned our state’s economic development and prosperity.
It began with the discovery of gold in 1867. Our resources story has continued through the development of oil and gas fields and then the Central Queensland coalfields.
At 18 per cent, Queensland’s resources sector is the biggest contributor to the state’s economy and supports about 75,000 good, secure jobs mainly in regional areas.
Queensland is hosting the World Mining Congress at a time when the world seeks to address and limit the impacts of climate change by reducing emissions.
The International Energy Agency estimates that demand for minerals is expected to quadruple by 2040 to ensure the world can build the clean energy technologies needed to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Without critical minerals, new technologies to aid that transition– including batteries, solar and wind infrastructure- would not exist.
Queensland is rich in the resources needed to make these technologies.
This is a generational opportunity to create a new future for Queensland’s resources industry where we mine and process the minerals to manufacture more renewables right here in this state.
We need to safeguard our economic future prosperity by developing new industries with a strong focus on the entire mining value chain.
In other words, we need to move beyond just digging minerals up. If we do not manufacture our future, someone else will.
The Congress is a wonderful opportunity to show to the world how Queensland is achieving a new resources future, through the $68 million Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan.
Planning is also well underway on the $75 million Queensland Resources Common User Facility in Townsville.
This will be the first facility of its type in Australia. A multi-user, multi-purpose facility designed to prove up the commercial viability of critical minerals in Queensland.
The World Mining Congress will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity for international representatives of the world’s leading resource economies to meet, discuss current challenges, and share the latest research, technology and best practice.
As the host state partner of World Mining Congress 2023, this is our opportunity to show the rest of the world that Queensland is the place to be when it comes to our exceptional mining services, infrastructure, safety and Environmental, Social and Governance credentials.
I cannot wait for the World Mining Congress to get underway, to showcase that Queensland truly is the land of resource opportunity.