Jobs boost expected with Mt Carbine tungsten project restart

The Queensland Government welcomes the restart of mining activities at the Mt Carbine tungsten project in North Queensland, which is set to generate jobs and economic benefits for the region. 

EQ Resources will soon begin full scale mining activities at the Mt Carbine tungsten project, located about 130 kilometres northwest of Cairns. 

“This is an important step forward for both Queensland’s growing critical minerals sector, and our renewable energy transition. 

“Demand for critical minerals such as tungsten in increasing exponentially as the world moves towards decarbonisation,” Resources Minister Scott Stewart said. 

NRW Holdings’ wholly owned subsidiary, Golding Contractors Pty Ltd, has been awarded the contract valued at $179 million to carry out works at the mine over a 70-month period. 

Scope of works under this contract include all mine planning, scheduling and operations that involves moving waste, ore and low-grade stockpile material to the processing plant. 

“I am delighted that the Golding team have now executed the contract with EQR. This contract is the culmination of a period whereby the Parties have been working closely together under an early engagement contract. This has been a very positive experience for Golding and the team are now very excited to move to the next phase with EQR,” Golding Contractors CEO Geoff Caton said. 

“We’re very happy with the relationship we’ve developed with Golding over the past year. It’s been a collaborative process and has been a positive engagement throughout. It feels we’ve gained a long-term partner rather than just a contractor. Their level of professionalism, proactive approach to problem solving and willingness to work with the EQR team has really set them apart,” EQ Resources CEO Kevin MacNeill said. 

Golding Contractors estimated this project to employ up to 50 people, sourced locally and from the broader North Queensland region. The company will utilise a mix of existing, hired as well as client-owned equipment fleet to deliver the works. 

The restart of mining activities will bring Mt Carbine back to its former glory. Mt Carbine is currently Australia’s only primary tungsten producer that produces approximately 350 tonnes of concentrate annually from existing tailings and low-grade stockpiles. 

Production is expected to increase up to between 60 to 90 tonnes a month once open cut mining activities commence. 

“Mt Carbine is already a major jobs provider in the region and will grow further in coming months as production ramps up. 

“The open cut mine will provide a five-fold increase in grade quality which will allow us to become a global leader in tungsten supply. 

“Our plan is for the Mt Carbine mining leases and surrounding exploration tenements to become a top three tungsten producer outside of China. 

“We are also looking to make a major contribution to economic development in the Cairns hinterland including upgrading services and providing employment opportunities in a region hot hard by COVID-19 lockdowns,” Mr MacNeill said. 

The Mt Carbine tungsten project is expected to employ up to 135 full-time workers overall. 

Tungsten – also known as wolfram – is a critical mineral utilised in aerospace, construction, and technology such as smartphones, solar panels, wind turbines and EV batteries. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; EQ Resources; NRW Holdings; Australian Mining; International Mining