THE CSIRO and BHP Billiton have signed an agreement aimed at delivering significant benefits to the iron ore, manganese and metallurgical coal industries, and Australia.
Under the plan, BHP Billiton’s iron ore, manganese and coke-making research capabilities will be relocated to the Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies (QCAT).
The precinct houses five CSIRO divisions, a number of National Research Flagships, a Defence Science and Technology Organisation research facility, Rio Tinto Alcan’s research facilities and several private companies involved in the resources sector.
CSIRO Group Executive Manufacturing, Materials and Minerals, Dr Steve Morton says the relocation of BHP Billiton’s researchers to the QCAT site provides an opportunity to ensure Australia remains competitive in the global minerals market. He says that the minerals industry is a huge export earner for Australia, yet it’s facing major challenges.
Morton claims that by having BHP Billiton and CSIRO researchers working more closely together it will ensure a better understanding of the industry’s needs and the effective utilisation of the researcher’s expertise and capabilities to meet those needs.
BHP Billiton Vice President Technical Marketing, Paul Donaldson claims that the collective knowledge of CSIRO, BHP Billiton and industry contacts will lead to a deeper understanding of the factors that influence the use of raw materials in the global steel industry, and how this will affect Australia’s minerals industry in the future.BHP Billiton plans to relocate 15 researchers to the Queensland Centre of Advanced Technologies from July 2009.