Queensland Resources Minister Scott Stewart
Resources Minister Scott Stewart will head to the US next week to secure partnerships with government and industry representatives to grow Queensland’s critical minerals industry.
The foundations for this mission were laid in June this year at the World Mining Congress where Stewart, alongside Queensland government officers, met with some of the world’s most influential governments and government investment banks.
Meetings continued in Sydney last month at IMARC – Australia’s largest mining event – marking the official start of engagements with the US government.
The mission will advance talks to secure investment into Queensland’s critical minerals sector.
The Queensland delegation will be accompanied by North America Trade Commissioner Viki Forrest and will meet with senior government officials and specialist resource industry investment firms in Washington, DC, and New York City.
Strengthening international connections aligns with important objectives under the $245-million Queensland Critical Minerals Strategy (QCMS) that will maximise economic opportunities and position Queensland as a global leader.
Ahead of the trade mission, Stewart gave a behind-the-scenes tour of the Critical Minerals Queensland (CMQ) office in Townsville.
CMQ, a cornerstone of the QCMS, will actively contribute to the development, growth and success of Queensland's critical minerals.
It will be a dedicated office to identify opportunities in the industry and foster discussions with proponents, investors, community members and researchers.
“As demand continues to surge for the critical minerals needed to build wind turbines, solar panels and storage batteries, Queensland will be at the forefront of the next global resources boom,” said Stewart.
“This is why I am heading to the United States next week, to negotiate future partnerships and secure Queensland’s legacy in this new industrial revolution.
“This is about more than promotion, it’s about securing the next generation of jobs for Queensland, diversifying and decarbonising the global economy, and securing the state’s future economic prosperity.
“We’re starting to fill the roles needed to staff the CMQ office, which means more good jobs for Townsville.
“We want Queensland to be a global leader, supplier and manufacturer of critical minerals, and this trade mission to the US, along with the establishment of CMQ, and the A$5-billion CopperString 2032 project will help get us there.”
“In the North West Minerals Province alone there is potentially A$500-billion of critical mineral deposits which CopperString will help unlock.
“These opportunities are all under threat from the LNP and their cuts plan – they don’t support progressive coal royalties – which means they will cut CopperString.”