The Brisbane-based centre was established in 1991 as one of 15 centres funded under the Commonwealth Government’s Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program. Last year it applied for ongoing funding and received $27 million funding from the Commonwealth Government. In its proposal to the Commonwealth for this second re-funding the Centre recognised the ongoing globalisation of the mining industry and sought to position itself to become the mining research provider of choice for this global industry.

International mining companies that are members (as opposed to shareholders) include BHP Billiton, Anglo Coal. Most recently, P&H MinePro Services and drilling contractor, AJ Lucas Group joined the research organisation as members.

With its renewal, the Centre took the opportunity to simplify its name from CMTE to CRC Mining and to add two other universities as research providers. Current research Universities of Queensland and Sydney, will be joined by the Universities of Newcastle and Arizona.

Chief executive officer, Professor Mike Hood said staff were excited about tackling the bigger-picture problems inherent on mining sites.

“CRC Mining is really looking beyond the individual pieces of equipment and we’re asking, ‘how can we streamline what happens across the mine site’,” said Hood.

“Some of the biggest mining companies in the world are laying their problems on the table during our Board and Technical Advisory Panel meetings, and now it’s up to our researchers to get to work to solve them.”

In March, CRC Mining research leaders met for a two-day retreat to flesh out the research agenda outlined in the Centre’s Business Plan. Present were representatives from all four of the CRC’s research participants.