Future Mining Opportunities for Mt Isa: New Report
THE HISTORIC QUEENSLAND mining town of Mt Isa has the potential to supply the new, clean energy economy, a report from the Climate Council has found.
"Our report highlights the significant opportunities for this part of Queensland with the global transition to renewable energy and batteries for households, businesses and electric cars," said the Climate Council's CEO, Amanda McKenzie.
The area around Cloncurry and Mt Isa is one of the world's richest mineral producing regions containing copper, lead and zinc as well as major silver and phosphate deposits.
"Demand for these minerals is growing - zinc, silver, lead, copper and rare earth metals for solar panels and wind turbines, while lead is needed in the production of electric batteries," said Ms McKenzie.
"Jobs in thermal coal will continue to be uncertain as the world moves away from fossil fuels, but there are likely to be more jobs in different types of mining. The new clean energy economy provides tremendous opportunities for regional Queensland because we have the raw materials, infrastructure, workforce and access to supply chains that a zero emissions economy needs," said Climate Councillor Professor Karen Hussey.
"But we need to be smart about planning for the transition, and sensitive to communities' expectations," said Professor Hussey.
Queenslanders are taking advantage of the abundant sunshine that drenches their state, with one third of households installing rooftop solar and more than 5000 jobs in the renewables sector, mostly based in regional Queensland.
Projects under construction or about to begin will create another 4,500 jobs in the state and deliver almost $10 billion in investment.
KEY FINDINGS:
There will soon be almost 10,000 jobs in the renewable energy sector in QLD, which is more than any other state or territory.
In dozens of QLD suburbs and towns more than 50% of households now have solar.
Queensland is the most vulnerable state in Australia to climate change. It is highly exposed to extreme weather, and has borne 60% of the total economic costs of extreme weather in Australia in the decade from 2007 to 2016.
