Below: ‘Industrial Suite’ by artist Larry Mitchell
The Pilbara Project, FORM
lithium. The 17-member group comprised of representatives of
Galaxy Resources, Hastings Rare Earths, Northern Minerals,
East Coast Minerals and Greenland Minerals and Energy along
with representatives from the Australian Nuclear Science and
Technology Organisation, CSIRO, BASF, Murdoch University,
Curtin University, Austrade, the Department of Mines and
Petroleum and Department of State Development.
Rare earth elements or rare earth metals are a set of
17
chemical elements in the periodic table. Despite their
name, rare earth elements are relatively plentiful in the earth’s
crust but not often found in concentrated and economically
exploitable forms. But this is Western Australia, a world
renowned minerals and energy province that is fortunate to
have such deposits.
It was obvious from the trip that the benefits of these
commodities are extremely significant. If you have a smart
phone, LCD TV, portable music device, hybrid or aspiring to
an electric car, you are using rare earths and/or lithium. They
are also used in many renewable energy technologies including
wind turbines, which can require up to 3,600 kilograms of
magnets with rare earths a major component.
These products are commonplace today and with the demand
for them consistently increasing, the future is incredibly strong.
Another better known commodity is also poised to position
WA as a significant global player – uranium. Just prior to the
delegation heading off, WA’s first uranium mine in Wiluna was
given the nod by the Environmental Protection Authority.
CME has always supported the uranium industry because it
broadens the state’s resource export base, will deliver jobs and
opportunities for Western Australians and, importantly, help
reduce global carbon emissions.
Let’s not underestimate the growing demand for these
products and therefore, the size of the opportunity at our feet.
Developing projects and markets is what Western Australia is
best at. We have the product, the knowledge and the experience.
Let’s take the advantage.
MINESITE 2012
•
7