Priority 2: Expanding the value chain

Queensland is well positioned to capture greater value from critical minerals through increased local processing, refining, manufacturing and other value-adding activities.  Strengthening these linkages will increase the economic returns for Queensland, support higher-value industrial activity and build our sovereign capability across all stages of the value chain.

To capture this generational opportunity, the challenges facing early-stage projects need to be addressed. Globally, new critical minerals value chains require significant upfront investment, specialised technical capability and long lead times to develop. These factors can create barriers for junior explorers and emerging producers seeking to move beyond extraction into processing, refining and other value-adding activities.

Queensland’s strengths in geoscience, research capability, mining expertise and existing refining infrastructure provide a strong platform for growth. Our existing strategic assets are ready to support expanded processing, refining and manufacturing capability:

• Townsville Zinc Refinery
• Mount Isa Copper Smelter
• Townsville Copper Refinery
• Boyne Aluminium Smelter
• Queensland Alumina Limited Refinery
• Yarwun Alumina Refinery
• Queensland Resources Common User Facility
• Flexi-Lab at the Resources Centre of Excellence.

However, unlocking the full potential of the sector requires targeted action to improve project viability and support commercialisation.

Targeted co-investment in shared infrastructure, such as processing, testing and demonstration facilities, is helping address common barriers to development and improve project viability. Through stronger partnerships between industry, research institutions and universities, Queensland will continue building the knowledge, innovation and industrial capability needed for growth.

Reliable and competitively priced energy will also be critical to expanding processing, refining and manufacturing industries. Investments such as CopperString, the North West Energy Fund and new gas-fired generation capacity will help put downward pressure on energy costs. Combined with new gas discoveries in the Taroom and Denison Troughs and the Queensland Government’s plan to increase gas production in the Cooper, Eromanga, Bowen and Surat Basins, Queensland is forecast to supply 96 per cent of eastern seaboard gas demand within the next decade—strengthening energy security that underpins investment in value-adding industries.

Through targeted investment, innovation and value-adding opportunities, Queensland will build a stronger and more connected critical minerals ecosystem that delivers lasting economic benefits for our regions, industry and economy.

Read our Spotlight on how the Queensland Government is investing in common-user infrastructure.

Priority 2 actions