Approved critical minerals mine development in QLD to support 800 jobs

Hundreds of good jobs are set to be supported in North Queensland following the approval to develop a critical minerals mine near Townsville. 

The State Government has granted a 25-year mining lease to Australian Mines Limited for its Greenvale mining area. Together with the Lucknow and Kokomo mining leases, these mines make up the Sconi Nickel-Cobalt-Scandium Project. 

In a statement, Australian Mines Limited said: “The approval of the Greenvale mining lease is another step closer to realising the Sconi Battery Minerals Project as we progress towards a final investment decision, expected by the end of 2025. 

“Australian Mines continues to advance other activities for the project, including the environmental monitoring and studies and exploration works consistent with the timelines previously announced. 

“Australian Mines is in discussion about the potential for Strategic Collaborative Partnership for the development of the Sconi Battery Minerals Project. The Company will update the market in due course with respect to such arrangements and collaboration if they are finalised.” 

The approximately $1.4 billion project will include a 2Mtpa ore processing plant for mixed nickel-cobalt hydroxide precipitate (MHP) and an open-cut mine. The Sconi Project will also be supported by “well-developed infrastructure” including access to the Port of Townsville. 

The Sconi Project is estimated to have a mine life of 30 years and is expected to produce around 47,000 tonnes of nickel sulphate, 7000 tonnes of cobalt sulphate and 89 tonnes of scandium oxide. 

In addition, the project is anticipated to support 800 jobs as well as increase Gross Regional Product by about $2.2 billion over its mine life. 

Commissioning of the Sconi Project is due to begin in 2028. 

“Around the world communities are demanding and making the shift towards a cleaner, greener low-emission economy. 

“Queensland has an abundance of critical minerals the world needs to decarbonise. 

“The Sconi Project is a vote of confidence in Queensland’s resources sector and means more good jobs for the state’s north. 

“The Palaszczuk Government is backing the development of the state’s critical minerals sector through the recently released Queensland Critical Minerals Strategy as well as our $5 billion CopperString 2032 electricity transmission line. 

“And planning is well underway on the $75 million Queensland Resources Common User facility, a multi-user, multi-purpose warehouse designed to prove up the commercial viability of critical minerals in Queensland,” Resources Minister Scott Stewart said. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Sconi; Australian Mines Limited; Australian Mining (1, 2)