The technology devices we have all relied on in 2020 are themselves dependant on a range of minerals and metals, such as copper, gold and rare earth elements, to make them work. This year, Australia’s biggest annual mining event is online and it’s only possible thanks to the raw materials the industry itself produces.
The International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) Online 2020 commenced this morning, providing an opportunity to acknowledge the role the sector plays in underpinning our way of life, even more than usual this year.
IMARC Online also presents an opportunity to showcase to the world the buoyant resources sector here in Victoria, with minerals exploration at record-breaking levels coupled with a significant increase gold production.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, minerals exploration spending in Victoria is currently six times higher than it was in 2015.
To keep this momentum going during worldwide economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever for Victoria’s resources sector to connect globally to share knowledge that could result in business opportunities and local jobs as the international economy is reshaped.
There’s more to the industry in Victoria than gold exploration and mining, with strong interest in copper and heavy mineral sands as well as a thriving mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector that includes the big players based in Melbourne and array of smaller businesses many of which are based regionally.
Thanks to world-class geoscience, high-grade copper exploration success in western Victoria could be developed to help meet the increasing international demand for this commodity.
As well as being used in all electronic products, copper is vital for renewable energy technologies that need more copper to operate than conventional production.
The Victorian Government’s virtual pavilion at IMARC 2020 focuses on emerging METS businesses including Australian Turntables, Freespace Operations and MX3 Diagnostics, who will see their innovations promoted to the world.
These companies are working hard to promote operational efficiencies and increased worker safety.
This is the seventh edition of IMARC, the Victorian Government is a founding partner along with Austmine, AusIMM and Mines and Money. In 2019 over 6600 delegates from 93 countries attended the conference.
As noted by Head of Resources John Krbaleski:
“IMARC Online 2020 is a great opportunity for resources businesses large and small, we’re helping deliver global connections for companies based in Victoria to boost their investment and export potential.”
“It’s important to acknowledge the role different minerals play in our everyday lives – technology, medical and renewable energy products are just some of the items that rely on mined materials.”
