Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development

As we wrap up an eventful year, we extend our warmest wishes to you and your family over the festive period. We look forward to reconnecting with you all in the new year. For all enquiries while we're away, please contact 13 QGOV (13 74 68).

The first meeting of the Resources Cabinet Committee was held this week. Stood up to deliver a coordinated approach to shaping our growing resources sector, the committee will initially meet bi-monthly to streamline our processes, improve our competitiveness and grow all parts of the sector.   Importantly, this department will be key in shaping the conversations and decisions that happen at the Committee and ensuring the objectives of the Committee are realised. The Committee will be focused on matters relevant to all parts of the department – including on-shoring more manufacturing opportunities, responsible use of the land in our local communities, and of course supporting regional and rural development. Mining is the largest industry in Queensland. We want to continue creating an environment for growth, balancing environmental responsibility and our vision for long-term prosperity. 

Our State continues to grow from strength to strength. We are pleased to announce that the following Queensland projects have secured funding under the Australian Government’s $40M International Partnerships in Critical Minerals program: 🥇 $3.8M to Vecco Group: Progressing a vanadium flow battery supply chain 🥇 $3M to Graphinex: Establishing a Battery Anode Hub in Townsville to refine graphite 🥇$2.7M to Critical Minerals Group Ltd: Advancing battery-grade vanadium electrolyte production in Townsville and Mount Isa. 🥇$8M to Queensland Pacific Metals: Producing nickel and cobalt for clean energy projects. The funding is welcome news and builds on the support for our State’s critical mineral sector, adding to the financial assistance the Queensland Government has provided these, and other critical mineral developers, to help build a new mining and manufacturing industry in Queensland. Critical Minerals Queensland Lead, Paul Holden says: “These investments are a nod to the power of collaboration, innovation and good leadership in our critical minerals sector.”

The Critical Minerals Queensland Townsville networking event brought together 40 representatives from industry and government to collaborate on building North Queensland’s #criticalminerals sector last week. Hosted by CMQ’s Principal Project Officer Krystal K., 'Business Critical Townsville' unpacked industry priorities for 2025, including enhancing the investability of projects through the development of common user infrastructure. Thanks to our speakers Tim Clair from Orica, and Scott Winter from Critical Minerals Group Ltd, for providing insight into the opportunities for Queensland projects to supply the global critical minerals market. And also to Jacqueline Leahy who provided an update on our social and environmental baselining study with EMM consultants in the Julia Creek Critical Minerals Zone. To subscribe to event updates email criticalminerals@resources.qld.gov.au Townsville City Council  

This week, alongside representatives from Trade and Investment Queensland, we meet with the State of Nevada’s Economic Development team here in Brisbane.   As well as being home to a Tesla Gigafactory, the State of Nevada has a strong and vibrant mining sector, like us here in Queensland.   The teams unpacked mutual areas of interest, from mining development, through to the importance of securing downstream manufacturing opportunities for our respective States.   Ralph Breaden. MAICD, AMICDA, Cdec., Director, Investment Attraction and Promotion said, “Sessions which allow the exchange of ideas like the one we had this week with the Nevada office of Economic Development, shows the relevance and importance of working with international partners such as TIQ. Gaining broader perspective, recharging ideas and finding new opportunities is fundamental to attracting key companies to invest in Queensland.”

North West Queensland’s abundance of critical minerals were under the spotlight last week during a visit to Maronan Metals (ASX:MMA) exploration headquarters by our Critical Minerals Queensland (CMQ) team.   To date, Maronan have completed more than 10,000m of diamond drilling to explore a significant deposit of lead-silver and copper-gold at Maronan Station. Located 65km south of Cloncurry, the site is a prioritised critical minerals industry development location identified in the Queensland Critical Minerals Strategy.   Maronan’s Exploration Manager Andrew Barker provided an up-close look at their new drill core, as well as 15,000m of historic core. The team had the opportunity to examine this core, gaining greater insight into the mineral make-up of the deposit. A 3D geological model also provided an interactive virtual tour of the end-to-end deposit.   Paul Holden, CMQ Lead said, “this tour was one of many designed to build relationships with proponents throughout Queensland’s critical minerals industry and gain first-hand understanding of how best to support the sector’s growth.”

Enhancing the investability of our emerging critical minerals projects was a hot topic in Cloncurry this week at Critical Minerals Queensland’s roundtable.    Hosted by CMQ Lead Paul Holden, the roundtable brought together critical minerals industry representatives from throughout the North West to discuss growing the sector - through enhanced access to water, acid, power and transport infrastructure.   The Cloncurry/Mt Isa region is a prioritised critical minerals industry development location identified in the Queensland Critical Minerals Strategy.   The roundtable concluded with the launch of Critical Minerals Queensland’s new industry and community networking series, ‘Business Critical’, hosted by A/Deputy-Director General, Darren Moor.   To build relationships and understanding about the emerging global critical minerals industry within the region, connect with us by emailing criticalminerals@resources.qld.gov.au Cloncurry Shire Council

Last week, some of our Critical Minerals Queensland staff accompanied James Purtill Office of the Queensland Mine Rehabilitation Commissioner on a facilitated tour of Vecco Group’s Vanadium Electrolyte plant – the first of its kind in Australia. Developed with funding support from the Queensland Government, the Townsville facility was central to the development of Queensland’s first grid scale vanadium flow battery installed at Berrinba in partnership with Sumitomo Corporation and Energy Queensland. Vecco Group is developing battery assembly facilities in parallel with the development of the Vecco Critical Minerals Mining Project near Julia Creek. The development of the Julia Creek/Richmond Critical Mineral Zone to grow a vanadium mining and processing sector in Queensland is a key plank in Queensland’s ambition to open up a new critical mineral mining and processing sector for the State.

On Remembrance Day we collectively reflect on those in our communities who gave their lives serving our country, and to honour those who serve to this day. We will remember them. Lest we forget. #RememberToRemember

As we continue to expand our #investment and #attraction expertise, we’re excited to introduce Ralph Breaden. MAICD, AMICDA, Cdec. and Mitchell Rawlins to our Critical Minerals Queensland team.   Together, they’re set to amplify Queensland’s position as a leading destination for critical minerals investment.   𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭? ✅ By leveraging the Queensland Critical Minerals Prospectus to highlight high-impact opportunities and expertly guide investors through the project development pipeline. ✅ By building strategic partnerships, by connecting industry leaders with investors, fostering collaborative, long-term relationships that drive innovative project development. ✅ By enhancing Queensland’s global reputation through targeted international outreach, showcasing our commitment to ESG principles and sustainable growth. ✅ By driving investment promotion by hosting international delegations, leading investor roadshows, and engaging in global forums to position Queensland as the premier hub for critical minerals investment.   Ralph and Mitchell are energised to put Queensland on the map as a global leader in #criticalminerals, a sector essential for clean energy technologies. With the right balance of expertise and passion, we have no doubt they’ll bring these goals to life.   Welcome aboard, Ralph and Mitch!