New ARC hub to revolutionise Australia’s mining industry

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Image credit: twitter.com/arc_gov_au

Senator the Hon. David Bushby, Senator for Tasmania, representing the Minister for Education and Training, officially launched the ARC Research Hub for Transforming the Mining Value Chain (TMVC) at the University of Tasmania last week.

Image credit: twitter.com/arc_gov_au

TMVC is part of the Australian Research Council’s Industrial Transformation Research Program (ITRP).

Housed within the University’s School of Physical Sciences, the new hub is focused on boosting the profitability and productivity of Australia’s mining industry and is set to address some of the greatest challenges facing the sector.

“$3.9 million in ARC funding for this hub, provided through the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Programme, will support important research into areas of  exploration, discovery, and characterisation of ore deposits through to environmental assessment, mining, ore processing and waste rock disposal,” said Chief Executive Officer of the ARC, Professor Aidan Byrne at the launch ceremony.

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“The main objective of the hub is to create improvements and efficiencies in this value chain. The minerals industry will benefit through advanced methods, and innovative technologies, to maximise productivity and profitability in the industry. This is an excellent example of how the ARC’s Industrial Transformation Research Hubs and Training Centres are bringing an industry focus to the research setting—connecting researchers with industry and business. This will bring great outcomes that will benefit our mining industry, and ultimately, the Australian community.”

According to the news release, aside from the ARC allocating nearly $4 million over the five-year life of the Hub, a further $4 million of matching funds is being pledged by participants within the minerals industry.

Professor David Cooke has been appointed as Hub Director, and will be supported by a team of world class researchers who will collaborate with the Australian partner organisations, including Newcrest Mining, BHP Billiton – Olympic Dam, and the service company Corescan.

“The TMVC hub will be of great benefit to the minerals industry through advanced mineral characterisation methods and innovative technologies for their implementation,” said Dr Cooke.

“”The ability to apply these processes much earlier in the mining value chain will enhance decision making and maximise new discoveries, productivity and profitability at Australian mine sites.”

This is the third ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub within the University of Tasmania, following the hubs dedicated to rock lobster production and food innovation using sensing technology.

“The University of Tasmania sits at the forefront of efforts to deliver collaborative, industry focused research and results. This hub, like our others, will provide a critical mass of talent, expertise and experience that will be focused on providing solutions for real life industrial applications,” said Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Mike Calford.

“It will also help our minerals industry to remain globally competitive by taking advantage of technological advance and becoming more efficient and targeted in its operations.”