Funding of A$20 million over seven years for the Parker Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions from the Australian Government’s CRC Programme was announced today by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Dr Brendan Nelson.

The new Centre’s objective is to maximise the returns from Australia’s mineral endowment by improving hydrometallurgical knowledge.

The Centre will develop breakthrough technologies that have the potential to change the competitive basis of the whole minerals industry, and make incremental improvements in current production technologies, effectively transferring research outputs to industry and developing the nation’s expertise in hydrometallurgy.

Hydrometallurgy plays an essential role in the production of alumina, gold, zinc, nickel, cobalt and copper, and as such is vitally important to the Australian economy.

Ten minerals-related companies will join five research providers (CSIRO Minerals, Curtin University, Murdoch University, the University of Queensland and the WA Department of Industry and Resources) as core participants in the new Centre. The Centre will also include 11 supporting participants.

The core industry participants are Alcan International, Alcoa World Alumina, AngloGold Ashanti Australia, Aughinish Alumina, BHP Billiton, Billiton Aluminium Australia, Hatch Associates, Queensland Alumina, Rio Tinto and WMC Resources.

In addition, Barrick Gold Australia, Central TAFE, Ciba Speciality Chemicals, Hydro Aluminium, Minara Resources, Minerals Council of Australia, Nalco Company, Outokumpu Technology, Straits Resources, Worley and Zinifex will join the new Centre as the supporting participants.

The Parker Centre’s CEO Mr Mark Woffenden says the funding will enable the Centre to continue to improve the efficiency and international competitiveness of the Australian minerals industry.

"Industry has shown its support for the new Centre by making a substantial financial investment,” says Mr Woffenden. “The core and supporting participants have committed to invest A$15 million over seven years.”

The new Centre will have four main activity themes: Breakthrough Technologies, Process Fundamentals, Technology Transfer and Developing Staff.

Breakthrough Technologies will involve research directed at critical challenges identified by the minerals industry. For example, new processing technologies for high-silica bauxite could convert vast uneconomic deposits into valuable assets.

Process Fundamentals will address industry’s need for advances in the understanding of the fundamental science controlling existing hydrometallurgical processes. Technology Transfer will focus on effective delivery of research outcomes to industry. The new Centre will also work to develop the minerals industry’s skill base.

The Parker CRC for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions will commence on 1 July 2005.

Since its establishment in 1992, the Parker Centre has grown to become the world’s leading hydrometallurgical research organisation.

Independent benefits analysis has estimated that the delivered and expected value of the research outcomes of the current Parker Centre total A$540 million (net present value) to industry clients.