Key Takeaways
- Australia launches the Green Metals Innovation Network (GMIN) with $10 million funding to boost green metals production.
- Initiative aims to enhance collaboration among research, government, and industry for the iron, steel, alumina, and aluminium sectors.
- GMIN is part of the Future Made in Australia agenda, expected to drive economic growth and job creation in low-carbon industries.
Advancing Australia’s Green Metals Industry
Australia is solidifying its position as a global leader in green metals production with the introduction of the Green Metals Innovation Network (GMIN). This $10 million initiative, funded by the Australian Government, is designed to enhance collaboration between various stakeholders, including industry leaders, researchers, and government bodies.
The network is spearheaded by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, in partnership with the Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC). It aims to promote a ‘Team Australia’ approach, focused on accelerating the growth of a domestic green metals industry, particularly in the iron, steel, alumina, and aluminium sectors. These sectors are crucial to the nation’s economic landscape, currently generating nearly $150 billion in annual exports and employing close to 200,000 individuals.
GMIN aligns with the Australian Government’s Future Made in Australia agenda, which seeks to leverage the country’s renewable energy resources and mineral wealth. By positioning itself at the forefront of green metals supply, Australia aims to support a net-zero economy and enhance its status as a supplier of value-added materials.
The network will tackle significant technical and economic challenges that hinder the advancement of green metals processing. Its primary objectives include:
– Speeding up the adoption of green metals processing routes;
– Reducing risks associated with developing and deploying new technologies tailored to Australian ores and conditions;
– Enhancing understanding of how to reduce costs and boost performance in innovative processing pathways.
GMIN will also focus on strengthening research capabilities, infrastructure, talent development, future planning, and knowledge sharing to propel Australia’s green metals industry.
Informed by extensive industry engagement, CSIRO will facilitate collaboration between sectors while enhancing expertise in green metals and identifying educational pathways to cultivate a skilled workforce for the industry.
Dr. Doug Hilton, Chief Executive of CSIRO, highlighted the potential for Australia’s growth in low-carbon industries, stating that the nation must harness the right tools and partnerships to succeed. He emphasized the dual challenge and opportunity presented by the transition to a sustainable economy, asserting that innovation could expand Australia’s economic prospects.
Jenny Selway, CEO of HILT CRC, reiterated the importance of the collaboration that GMIN fosters, aiming to bridge gaps in the cost-effective production of green metals and support Australia’s transition to net-zero emissions. By uniting industrial and research communities, GMIN is positioned to drive significant technological advancements and rapid innovation in the field of green metallurgy.
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