- Downstream processing - Significant electricity generation capacity - New mines - Exploration - High-quality port access
Tasmania is extremely rich in minerals. The mining and mineral processing industries have been a significant part of Tasmania’s economy for more than 100 years. In addition to encouraging exploration and mining of its mineral resources, Tasmania is keen to further develop the value-added processing component of its resource industries. Potential exists for mineral processing opportunities in zinc, tin, magnesium and nickel.
The Tasmanian mining sector employs approximately 2 400 people and most of the industry is located in the west and north-west areas of the state. The minerals extracted include copper, iron ore, zinc, lead, gold, silver and tin. Coal is also mined in the north-east of the state.
A continuing joint focus for the Tasmanian Government and mining industry is the acquisition and promotion of new geological data to inform and encourage potential exploration and investment opportunities. A key component is a computer-based three-dimensional geological model of Tasmania. In addition, the Tasmanian Information on Geoscience and Exploration Resources (TIGER) System is an innovative information management and web delivery system providing access to geo-scientific information on Tasmania. Both systems are available through the Mineral Resources Tasmania’s website: www.mrt.tas.gov.au.
The Tasmanian mineral processing sector employs approximately 1 800 people and comprises four main companies – Rio Tinto, TEMCO, Nyrstar and Cement Australia. Rio Tinto’s aluminium smelter and TEMCO’s ferro-alloy smelter are both located at Bell Bay in the state’s north. Nyrstar operates a zinc smelter at Risdon near Hobart, while Cement Australia produces cement at a plant in the northwest of the state.
