Queensland company Sedgman has been appointed the managing contractor for the delivery of a critical minerals processing facility targeting vanadium and other rare earth elements.

CIMIC group company Sedgman will work with the state government to develop the detailed design and construction programme for the Queensland Resources Common User Facility (QRCUF).

Queensland has access to some of the world’s richest critical mineral-producing areas, with the North West minerals province assessed to hold deposits worth A$500-billion.

The state has major deposits of copper, lead, zinc, nickel, cobalt, tungsten, graphite, vanadium and rare earths.

The QRCUF will accelerate the development of commercial mining projects in Queensland, promote investment in advanced mineral manufacturing opportunities, and support supply chain and industry development.

Mining companies will be able to trial mineral processing techniques, demonstrate project feasibility at scale and provide the market with product samples to accelerate commercial development opportunities.

Located at the Cleveland Bay Industrial Park in Townsville, the facility supports the growth of the state’s emerging critical minerals sector and will help create good jobs in North Queensland.

The state-owned mineral processing facility is intended to be operational for vanadium processing in 2025, with capacity to expand over time to encompass processing other critical minerals such as cobalt and rare earth elements.

“Queensland has strong history as a mining state, and this common user facility will ensure we have a strong mineral future as well.

“This facility will enable smaller mining companies to prove up their product and develop new opportunities for vanadium mining in Queensland,” commented Resources Minister Scott Stewart.

As the only facility of its kind in the Asia-Pacific, the facility will also position Queensland at the forefront of innovation and commercialisation to drive advancements in manufacturing, defence, and scientific research, he added.

Sedgman MD Grant Fraser added that the initiative to develop a critical minerals common user facility was a vital step in ensuring Queensland stayed at the forefront of technology development.

“Minerals processing is at the heart of what we do, and we are pleased to bring our expertise to this unique project based in regional Queensland.

“We will now begin to engage other Queensland companies to bring this state-of-the art facility to life.”