Mining and Mineral Industries Opportunities

-          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. In 2004-05 the total estimated value of Tasmanian mineral production and metallurgical mineral processing was A$1,643 million.

The Tasmanian mining sector employs approximately 2,100 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.

In 2004-05 the total value of production was A$549 million with exports valued at A$215 million. During this period the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a 10.7 per cent increase in Tasmanian mineral exploration expenditure to A$8.3 million.

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 1,600 people and comprises four main companies - Comalco, TEMCO, Zinifex and Cement Australia. Comalco’s aluminium smelter and TEMCO’s ferro-alloy smelter are both located at Bell Bay in the state’s north. Zinifex operates a zinc smelter at Risdon near Hobart, while Cement Australia produces cement at a plant in the northwest of the state. In 2004-05 the total value of production was A$870 million with exports valued at A$1,094 million.

Related Links:Mineral Resources Tasmania