Record jobs and sales in WA’s resources sector

Western Australia's resources industry experienced record sales of $172 billion in the 2019-20 financial year, according to statistics released by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.

Iron ore sales reached a record $103 billion on increased output and an eightyear price high.

Gold sales also soared to an all-time high of almost $16 billion, with prices averaging more than $2,300 per ounce.

Mineral exploration expenditure hit $1.7 billion, an increase of 17 per cent from $1.4 billion in 2018-19.

Oil sales increased to $2.6 billion on higher volumes, despite lower prices across the first half of 2020, while nickel sales recovered to more than $3.1 billion, a four-year high.

A record average of 135,000 people were employed in the resources sector during 2019-20, up from 128,374 the previous year. Iron ore and nickel construction activities accounted for most of the growth, while exploration employment also increased 12 per cent.

Almost $19 billion was invested in WA's resources sector, up from $17 billion in 2018-19. This represents the first year-on-year increase in mining and petroleum investment since the 2012-13 iron ore and LNG boom. There are currently more than $100 billion worth of projects in the pipeline. For more information, visit http://dmp. wa.gov.au/About-Us-Careers/LatestStatistics-Release-4081.aspx

$98 million graphite processing facility planned for Rockingham

Rockingham is set to house a to 200 construction jobs and 75 ongoing multi-million-dollar downstream operational jobs once complete. processing facility supporting WA-based EcoGraf owns a patented Western Australia’s growing battery minerals state-of-the-art, eco-friendly graphite industry, with the signing of an agreement purification process, catering to between DevelopmentWA and EcoGraf. strong demand in global markets for

The demand for battery minerals environmentally responsible battery-grade in electric vehicles and battery storage spherical graphite. systems has created an exciting opportunity Production capacity for Stage 1 of the for Western Australia, which has the fourth proposed Rockingham facility is 5,000 largest reserves of graphite in the world. tons of battery-grade spherical graphite

EcoGraf has signed an option to lease per annum, increasing to 20,000 tons per on two lots in the Rockingham Strategic annum with the completion of Stage 2. Industrial Area (SIA), with plans to develop Rockingham SIA was chosen as the site a graphite processing facility in two stages. of the proposed facility due to its existing

The development, occupying 6.7 infrastructure, access to global markets, and hectares, is expected to commence recent lithium developments and related construction in mid-2021 and create up activity in the Rockingham-Kwinana region.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said, “The allocation of this prime industrial land to EcoGraf supports the State Government's Future Battery Industry Strategy, which aims to grow this emerging sector in WA and transform it into a significant source of economic development, diversification, jobs and skills.

“Importantly, this proposed multi-milliondollar investment comes just two months after the opening of Alloy Road unlocked new strategic industrial land. This is another demonstration of the great work done by the Industrial Lands Authority facilitate to industry growth and investment in WA.”