The purpose of a Cooperative Research Centre is to deliver research outcomes to end users in the relevant industry. Moreover, CRC ORE industry participants require a centre of excellence with a commercial focus to manage the roll-out of research benefits.

The Australian government requires CRC ORE to have a transition plan to transfer the benefits of its research to the mining industry. This plan is embodied in phase two of the research program, as well as ongoing development of commercial enterprises.

Implementing this technology requires experts in orebody characterisation, metallurgical process design and life-of-mine project evaluation to work closely as a team that takes a “whole-of-value-chain” approach to a mining project.  It is very important that the traditional “silo approach” of these three disciplines does not derail the search for “system value”.

Large, complex ore bodies offer significant economic opportunity, but with equally significant variability in grade and geometallurgical response, present a real risk of underperformance in the plant.  CRC ORE technology is being developed for implementation by mining companies to directly address this challenge.