The Queensland Government has appointed CIMIC Group’s Sedgman as Managing Contractor for the construction of the Queensland Resources Common User Facility (QRCUF), a critical minerals processing facility targeting vanadium and other rare earth elements.
According to the State Government, the QRCUF aims to expedite Queensland’s commercial mining projects, encourage investment in advanced mineral manufacturing, and support supply chain and industry growth.
“We see the Queensland Government’s initiative to develop a critical minerals common user facility as a vital step in ensuring Queensland and Queensland companies stay at the forefront of the technology development essential to develop new resources driven industries required for our energy transition,” Sedgman Managing Director Grant Fraser said.
Fraser noted that the company will now engage other Queensland companies to bring the facility to life.
Mining companies will be able to trial their mineral processing techniques, scale project feasibility, and provide product samples to the market, accelerating commercial development opportunities.
Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said the facility will equip Queensland with the critical minerals for clean energy production in the future.
“This facility will enable smaller mining companies to prove up their product and develop new opportunities for vanadium mining in Queensland,” Treasurer Dick stated.
According to him, efficient production of vanadium, a key component in redox flow batteries, has the potential to significantly boost the State’s renewable energy sector.
“As the only facility of its kind in the Asia-Pacific, the facility will also position Queensland at the forefront of innovation and commercialisation to drive advancements in manufacturing, defence, and scientific research,” he added.
The facility, located in Townsville’s Cleveland Bay Industrial Park, promotes the growth of the State’s critical minerals sector and will help create decent jobs in North Queensland.
The QRCUF is set to begin processing vanadium in 2025, with the potential to expand to include processing other critical minerals like cobalt and rare earth elements over time.
“Queensland has some of the world’s richest mineral producing areas, with major deposits of copper, lead, zinc, nickel, cobalt, tungsten, graphite, vanadium and rare earths,” Minister for Resources Scott Stewart said.
“Delivery of this Facility, as well as Copperstring 2032 and other projects detailed in the Queensland Critical Minerals Strategy, will help accelerate resources opportunities to carry us into a new century,” Minister Stewart noted.
