WA WILL step into the new millennium with an “extremely positive” outlook for the resource industry.
Various multi-million dollar projects on the drawing boards will add considerably to the extraordinarily diverse range of mineral resources that are in demand by industry throughout the world, according to the Department of Resources Development WA Industrial Minerals review.
In the review, Resource Develop-ment Minister Colin Barnett said, not only is WA the largest producer of industrial minerals in Australia, it is a world leader in the production of a number of industrial minerals, including zircon, diamonds, garnet, synthetic rutile, ilmenite, tantalum and salt.
“The outlook for the industry in WA remains extremely positive,” Mr Barnett said.
“The industrial minerals sector is important to the WA economy both in terms of the significant investment opportunities that it provides and the jobs it generates, often in regional and remote areas.
“The new vanadium industry, for example, has the potential to become a major success story for the State,” he said.
“Construction of Vanadium Australia Pty Ltd’s $121 million vanadium mine and processing plant at Windimurra is a first for Australia.
“Further vanadium developments are being considered by Tanganyika Gold NL and Dominion Mining at Balla Balla in the Pilbara, Greater Pacific Gold NL at Gabinatha and by Australian Gold Resources at its Youanmi deposit near Windimurra.”
Last year, industrial minerals contributed $2110 million to the State’s economy, representing more than 10 per cent of the total value of minerals and petroleum production in WA.
The value of the State’s production far exceeds that of other States such as South Australia ($245 million, 1998), Queensland ($221 million, 1997/98) and New South Wales ($196 million, 1997/98).
