Mining Industry Scan

Australia is the world’s largest exporter of iron ore and is also one of the world’s largest exporters of coal, bauxite, alumina, iron ore, lithium, gold, lead, diamond, rare earth elements, uranium and zinc.

A growing global demand for critical minerals is due to their use in renewable energy infrastructure, EVs, technology applications and advanced manufacturing processes.

The resources industry, including oil and gas is worth over $527 billion per year, with the three largest sectors accounting for 85% of this revenue:

• Oil and Gas $164.00 billion, 31.1%;

• Coal $157.11 billion, 29.8%;

• and Iron Ore $124.44 billion, 23.6%.

There are 333 operating mine sites in Australia, with 89% spread across WA (158), Qld (80) and New South Wales (57). There are approximately 2,200 quarries nationally.

Australia’s three most important mineral commodities are coal with 95 operating mines and 94% of those on the east coast; precious metals, including gold, silver, and platinum group elements with 93 operating mines and 81% of them in WA; and iron ore with 41 operating mines, 90% are in WA.

It has been estimated the world will consume more minerals and metals in the coming 30 years than it has for the last 70,000.