PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland government on Tuesday awarded the first A$4-million instalment of a A$10-million plan to boost exploration in the state, dividing the funding among 24 explorers.

“Queensland has managed the health response to Covid-19 well, and now we are rolling out our economic strategy for recovery,” said Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham.

“Central to that recovery and jobs is our resources sector, a traditional strength of Queensland’s economy.

“The resources sector industry has fared better than others throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and these grants will help to future-proof regional economies as the state continues its economic road to recovery.

“Exploration is essential for Queensland to keep up with the soaring global demand for tech minerals and these grants are in place to put Queensland’s industry on the front foot.

“Demand for the next generation of minerals is being driven by new technologies such as electric vehicles and renewable energy products, computers, smartphones and products for the medical, defence and scientific research sectors – and Queensland is the place to get them.”

Thirteen explorers in the North West will receive grants of up to A$200 000 each to undertake fourteen north-west Queensland projects in a joint initiative between government and industry, to help drive innovative ways to make new resource discoveries in Queensland.

A further four explorers will receive grants of up to A$200 000 to hunt for new economy minerals in central Queensland, with three more targeting far north Queensland, and another in the south west region.

“These are genuine regional exploration projects bringing regional jobs, with explorers looking for minerals including copper, cobalt, silver and gold as well as a plethora of rare earth minerals,” Lynham said.

“As the ‘green economy’ grows, so will the demand for minerals such as cobalt, nickel, indium and many others needed to manufacture renewable technology.

“Indium for example, plays a big role in some of today’s most popular technology and is critical to the manufacture of solar panels – which we can already see on 620 000 rooftops right across the state”.