Queensland is currently moving to accelerate new resource projects in August including a planned graphite mine for Croydon.
It is asking companies to submit expressions of interest (EOI) in infill areas adjacent to current coal and gas projects.
The government also wants to hear from companies interested in exploring an identified vanadium site near Julia Creek, North-West Queensland.
Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last says they are keen to attract new investment in state resources.
“We’re asking industry to tell us where they are interested in exploring, which will inform our decisions over future land exploration releases,” he says.
“This is our next step towards unlocking new resources supply and follows our well-received gas exploration release earlier this year.”
“It streamlines approvals and cuts our development
timeline by at least 12 months.” Art Malone (Graphinex)
GRAPHITE PROJECT
The government also says it is ‘turbocharging’ a proposed 3.5 million tonne graphite mine to create 233 jobs in the state’s north-west.
It claims that the site may contain 25 million tonnes of graphite, making it the third largest deposit in the world.
Graphinex’s Esmeralda Graphite Mine project involves digging a greenfield mine at Croydon, north-west Queensland, and a processing plant in Townsville that will also help with battery anode manufacturing.
The government is eyeing a 2027 start to construction with operations expected to begin about 18 months later.
The government found backers for the project after a trade mission to North America led by Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last earlier this year.
Graphinex Managing Director Art Malone says that the recent declaration of Co-ordinated Project status for the project will accelerate it to market.
“This declaration is a major milestone for Graphinex.
“It streamlines approvals and cuts our development timeline by at least 12 months,” he says.
“The international investor introductions have directly resulted in significant investment into Graphinex thanks to minister Last’s efforts.”
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