The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed the announcement from Federal Minister Keith Pitt of a new five-year, $190 million investment plan for Northern Australia.

The QRC has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of a further $539.2 million in funding for new emissions reduction projects, calling it a necessary and pragmatic step towards helping Australia meet global emission targets.

More than 60 percent of CEOs surveyed for a new report on Queensland’s resources sector are considering hydrogen-related business opportunities, with 10 percent already committed to hydrogen projects.

Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said more than 30 percent of member CEOs who responded to a recent sentiment survey believe hydrogen will provide an opportunity to reduce emissions in their own business, and a further 30 percent think hydrogen could help grow their business.

Mr Macfarlane said the results published in the QRC’s latest State of the Sector report show resources companies are actively looking at new technologies such as hydrogen as a way to reduce emissions to address the challenge of climate change.

“While there is a way to go before green hydrogen can be considered a commercially viable energy source in Queensland, the research, development and commercialisation work underway is very promising,” he said. “The State Government’s decision to establish a Ministry for Hydrogen Industry Development and a Ministerial Energy Council also shows it’s serious about encouraging industry to invest in renewable technologies like hydrogen, so I think we’re all moving in the right direction. The QRC looks forward to sharing the strong interest of our members in hydrogen, as part of the energy mix, in our discussions with the Council. The good news for Queensland is that the unique ingredients that make our state a global minerals and energy powerhouse are ideally suited to support a thriving hydrogen export industry. Queensland has around 300 days of sunshine a year, we’re close to large export markets in Asia, and we have a proud history of co-existing with other regional industries. Queensland’s resource industry already has the essential skills base and strong safety culture that can drive the state’s hydrogen sector forward on a large scale.”

Mr Macfarlane said research into how to safely and economically add hydrogen into the global energy mix is well underway, with mining companies already heavily involved in trialling hydrogen for industrial use.

Current projects involving QRC member companies include:

• Anglo American has been working with global energy company ENGIE to develop the world’s largest hydrogen-powered mine haul truck, which is expected to match or exceed the performance of its diesel equivalent with the benefits of cleaner air, less noise and lower maintenance costs
• Glencore’s Raglan nickel mine in northern Quebec has run on a micro-grid powered by an Arctic-rated wind turbine generator connected to a hydrogen energy storage unit since 2015
• Last year Hatch, Anglo American, BHP and Fortescue formed a Green Hydrogen Consortium to look at ways to use green hydrogen to decarbonise their operations globally

Mr Macfarlane said the latest State of the Sector report highlighted the continuing resilience and adaptability of Queensland’s resources industry in the face of the global pandemic.

“In spite of all the challenges we’ve faced, mining and gas jobs in Queensland increased by 15 percent over the 12 months to February 2021 according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics’ figures, which means jobs supported by our state’s resources sector would now be well over 420,000,” he said. “24 percent of our CEOs are also planning to increase employment at their Queensland operations over the next 12 months, with half expecting to increase their workforce by more than 25 percent. This is a huge vote of confidence in our sector which benefits every Queenslander through a stronger state economy and more jobs.”

The QRC is Queensland’s peak representative body for coal, metal and gas explorers, producers and suppliers across the resources sector. It contributes one in every five dollars to the Queensland economy, sustains one in six Queensland jobs, supports more than 15,000 businesses and contributes to more than 1,200 community organisations across the state - all from 0.1 percent of Queensland’s land mass.

Source: QRC

The Queensland Resources Council’s (QRC) latest State of the Sector report highlights the continuing adaptability and resilience of the state’s $82.6 billion resources industry, in spite of the impact of the global pandemic, Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said today.

Mr Macfarlane said a survey of QRC member company CEOs in February 2021 showed resources companies are actively looking at new technologies such as hydrogen to reduce emissions and grow their business in a sustainable way.

A quarterly report into the performance of Queensland’s resources sector due for release mid-April will show Queenslanders can continue to rely on resources to help the state recover from Covid-19.

The Queensland resources sector has again defied the Covid-19 global pandemic by adding 10,259 jobs – or more than one extra job every hour – over the 12 months to February this year, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data released today.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed the announcement of a new joint venture that, if approved, could develop a new bauxite mine and create hundreds of new jobs in Far North Queensland.

The Queensland resources and energy sector is currently looking to fill more than 1000 jobs across the State, Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said today.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has congratulated Santos on being awarded an Authority to Prospect (ATP) in the gas-rich Bowen and Surat Basins.

QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said Resources Minister Scott Stewart’s announcement that Santos had been granted a domestic gas ATP was a win for the gas industry and for industrial and household consumers.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has joined the Resources Minister, Scott Stewart, in congratulating Glencore coal on its transformation of previous open-cut mining areas at Oaky Creek coal mine to native vegetation with the potential for grazing. 

Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane today congratulated Queensland’s 2021 Exceptional Woman in Resources winner Maryann Wipaki and Exceptional Young Woman in Resources winner Ashleigh Turner on their outstanding contributions to the state’s resources sector.

Resource exploration spending in Queensland increased by almost $130 million or 23 percent in 2020, according to new data released.

The adventures of Indiana Jones have nothing on Queensland’s current crop of intrepid explorers, who are literally going to the far ends of the state’s north and north-west to discover the critical minerals needed to lower world carbon emissions.

They come from all over Queensland but have one key thing in common – a record of exceptional performance in the resources sector. The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) and Women in Mining and Resources Queensland (WIMARQ) announced state finalists for the 2021 Resources Awards for Women.

Queensland’s resources sector has continued to go “above and beyond” to keep workers, their families and regional communities safe following the Queensland Government’s announcement on Friday of a 72-hour lockdown for Greater Brisbane.

The Queensland Resources Council has welcomed the appointment of Member for Townsville Scott Stewart as the new State Minister for Resources.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomes the Queensland Investment Corporation’s (QIC) commitment to take a 9.9 per cent stake in the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT) near Mackay.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed a $45 million state government pre-election commitment to a new future skills initiative to encourage closer partnerships between high schools and industry-related job opportunities.

Chief Executive of the Queensland Resources Council Ian Macfarlane has welcomed 50 extra resources-related construction jobs created by Senex Energy in its new $30 million Roma North expansion announced.

The Queensland Resources Council has welcomed the Queensland Government’s announcement of an implementation agreement for the proposed CopperString 2.0 high voltage 1,100 km transmission line to the North West Minerals Province.