Stay Up to Date
Subscribe to our quarterly updates for all the latest MinEx CRC news
What is MinEx CRC?
MinEx CRC is the world’s largest mineral exploration collaboration bringing together Industry, Government and Research Organisations, backed by:
- $50M cash from the CRC Program
- $41M cash from geological surveys and industry
- $51M non-staff in-kind
- $78M or 311FTE staff in-kin
TOTAL $220M
Background
Mineral and energy resources contributed 13.9% of GDP in 2022-2023. The future of this contribution is at risk due to the trend of declining discovery of major, new mineral deposits. The challenge lies in exploring for deposits buried under the overlying sand, soil and sediment that covers much of Australia.
Where are we now?
Now in its sixth year of research, MinEx CRC is focused on a new set of exploration tools and new ways to deploy those tools that recognise the fundamental importance of collecting quantity and quality data from the subsurface.
MinEx CRC is focused on developing more productive, safer and environmentally-friendly drilling methods to discover and drill-out deposits. This includes pioneering work on coiled tubing (CT) drilling technology and innovations in diamond and RC drilling techniques aimed at improved drilling optimisation and automation.
In parallel, MinEx is developing new technologies for collecting data while drilling. This is being undertaken in four separate industry-led projects utilising geophysical, seismic, downhole analytical and 3-d modelling improvements.
A National Drilling Initiative (NDI) is also underway, with drilling programs completed in 2020-2024. The NDI is a world-first collaboration of Geological Surveys, researchers and industry, to undertake drilling in under-explored areas of potential mineral wealth and provide a test-bed for new mineral exploration technologies.
Other notable CRCs within the resource sector
ACTIVE:
CONCLUDED:
Governance
MinEx CRC Ltd was incorporated in April 2018 to carry out the activities of the Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre. MinEx CRC is a company limited by guarantee, with Participants in the CRC eligible to become company members.
MinEx CRC Ltd operates on a not-for-profit basis and is a registered charity. On 28 March 2019, the Company received notification from the ACNC of its charitable status effective from the date of incorporation. MinEx CRC operates under The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) regulatory regime. As the Company is a charitable institution it is also exempt from paying income tax.
MinEx CRC is governed by an independent skills-based Board. The Board are accountable to a number of stakeholders, including the Australian Government through the Commonwealth Agreement, our Participants through the respective Participants Agreement and Affiliate Agreements, and our Members through the Constitution. In addition to monitoring the performance of the MinEx CRC, the Board plays an important role in the approval and regular review of MinEx CRC funded projects to ensure that research is aligned with its objectives.
The roles, responsibilities, delegations and authorities of the Board, the respective Committees of the Board and of Management are defined in the MinEx CRC Corporate Governance Manual, which is the key corporate governance reference of the Company. A key component of the governance structure are Board Committees, all of which are directed by their own Committee Charters/Terms of Reference. These Board Committees include the Risk and Audit Committee, Remuneration Committee, the Commercialisation Committee and the Nomination and Selection Committee (NSC) whose representatives are elected by the Members in accordance with the MinEx CRC Constitution.
MinEx CRC’s governance framework has been set up to ensure transparent accountability to all stakeholders.
MinEx CRC is dual-headquartered. The registered office is located at the Australian Resource Research Centre, Kensington, Western Australia. The secondary office is located at the Future Industries Institute of the University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, Adelaide, South Australia.
Day to day business is transacted through the Chief Executive Officer, under a contract overseen by the Board.
MinEx CRC Whistleblowers Policy
A copy of the MinEx CRC Whistleblowers Policy can be accessed in the HR section of the Publications page here