PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland government has awarded tungsten producer EQ Resources the tender for resource exploration activities across the historic Wolfram Camp and Bamford Hill mines.

The permit covers a 480 km² area, 90 km west of Cairns, and re-commercialisation of former mines is a key component of the state government’s new Critical Minerals Strategy as well as the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan.

“This project is a pilot that could potentially see more of our former mine sites around the state transformed from a liability to an asset, once more generating good jobs and royalties for the people of Queensland,” Resources Minister Scott Stewart said.

“EQ Resources has a proven track record in revitalising former mines, having established significant mine waste reprocessing operations and recently announcing starting opencut mining at its nearby Mt Carbine tungsten project, creating up to 135 good jobs.

“The re-commercialisation of Wolfram Camp is a key action of the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan,” Stewart said.

“Queensland has many of the critical minerals needed to make the renewable energy technologies the world needs for a net zero emissions future. That’s why we have now also released the Queensland Critical Minerals Strategy, which will oversee A$245-million of investment into growing this sector in Queensland.

“Part of the Strategy will focus on supporting companies looking to extract critical minerals from waste and tailings at existing and former mines. This tender will not only create more good jobs for the region but helps us meet the challenge of leading the world towards a decarbonised future.”

EQ Resources told shareholders that acquiring the Wolfram Camp aligned with the company’s growth strategy, and enabled the company to leverage its expertise and practices from the revitalised Mt Carbine tungsten mine.

“As we did with the Mt Carbine project, we are committed to engaging closely with the communities around Wolfram Camp to create shared prosperity and opportunities,” EQ Resources CEO Kevin MacNeill said.

“This includes generating new employment avenues, contributing to the local economy, and promoting responsible environmental stewardship in alignment with EQ Resources’ core values.

“The company’s success at Mt Carbine is a testament to its ability to transform historical mining sites into thriving operations with a positive impact on the environment and surrounding communities and we envision a similar transformation for Wolfram Camp.

“Our team of experienced professionals will apply modern exploration techniques and state-of-the-art technologies to maximise the site's potential while minimising its environmental footprint in order to unlock Wolfram Camp’s potential as a critical mineral producer.”