FlexiLab coming to Mackay to filter coal waste

Sifting through coal waste to find rare minerals, a new industrial hub in Mackay will help drive the shift towards renewable technology.

The Future Industries Hub and Flexilab will have almost $6 million in State funding. Photo: Fergus Gregg

A mineral processing plant is coming to Mackay, testing waste from Bowen Basin mines to see if there are critical minerals lying in wait to be found.

The ‘FlexiLab’ will be part of the Future Industries Hub, funded by the Resources Centre of Excellence, along with $5m in funding from the Queensland government.

Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart said, “If you don’t manufacture your future, someone else will”.

The Flexilab’s primary function is as a mineral purification plan that tests waste from previous Bowen Basin mining operations.

“We don’t know yet what’s sitting in this coal waste,” said Mr Stewart.

“We’ll bring it here in small amounts and test for whole range of critical minerals and rare earth, that way we can identify which waste areas can have their potential unlocked.

“We’ve got to be smarter and look to the future.”

Through the Flexilab, the RCOE intends to capitalise on the demand for precious metals that can be used in manufacturing electronics and advanced machinery.

The Future Industries Hub will boast a Flexilab purification plant. Photo: contributed

Mr Stewart referred to copper mining operations around Cloncurry, which unearthed large amounts of cobalt.

“It was a waste product at the time,” he said.

“We left it out there in waste fills.

“Rather than digging another big hole, lets repurpose that waste.”

The Future Industries Hub has been designed as a “common-use” facility will be used by RCOE and other companies for testing, innovation, developing and training.

“By building this facility it’s about how we train the next generation,” said Mr Stewart.

Since the RCOE’s opening in 2020, it has provided training for students and apprentices and supported companies with research.

State Member for Mackay, Julieanne Gilbert commented that the “state-of-the-art” facility will provide “great opportunities” for Mackay.

“The future is here today, we are ahead of the game, we are here to support the Resource Centre of Excellence to grow new jobs for our kids,” she said.

“They won’t need to look around to find high quality jobs, they can find it here in their own backyard.”

Mr Stewart is confident in the investment.

“I’d bank our $5m investment on this facility finding us new minerals in that waste,” he said.