Centre History
Centre History
CMTE - the predecessor to CRCMining
The Cooperative Research Centre for Mining Technology and Equipment (CMTE) opened its doors as one of 15 Centres funded under the Commonwealth Government's new Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program on July 1, 1991.
Over the past 15 years the CRC Programme has gone from strength to strength. Its approach of linking researchers with end users has proven effective at delivering demonstrably substantial outcomes for the nation.
The success of the Programme was highlighted by Prime Minister John Howard, speaking at the CRC Association Conference in Canberra in May 2003.
Mr Howard noted the high level of bi-partisan support enjoyed by the CRC Programme and acknowledged the foresight of the Hawke administration in initiating the Programme. He reminded the audience that his government had substantially increased funding to CRCs, including $220 million as part of the "Backing Australia's Ability" science initiative and a further $60 million in the 2003 budget.
There are currently some 70 CRCs operating across a range of industries and in "public good" arenas such as the environment.
CMTE was a highly effective CRC. In 1997, when it applied successfully for re-funding, it changed from being a researcher-driven unincorporated Centre to become a not-for-profit, industry-driven, incorporated company limited by guarantee (meaning it had members rather than shareholders).
In 1997, CMTE's industry members were the premier Australian mining companies CRA, BHP Coal, Shell Coal, WMC, Pasminco and Hamersley Iron. Over the past seven years the industry has changed to become more global. CRA merged with Rio Tinto, BHP merged with Billiton, Anglo Coal bought Shell Coal, etc.
By the time the Centre applied in 2002 to be re-funded for a second time it had already established itself in Australia as "the source of research and the leader of development in new technologies for mining" (according to an eminent panel of international experts which reviewed the Centre in June 2002).
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.
To that end the Centre increased its membership to include other international companies, for example, Phelps Dodge - the world's second largest copper producer; P&H MinePro Services and Komatsu Australia - both world-class equipment manufacturers; the AJ Lucas Group - a drilling contractor; AngloGold Ashanti - one of the world's largest gold producers; and Caterpillar Elphinstone - a world leading manufacturer of mining and construction equipment.
CMTE's traditional research providers had been the Universities of Queensland and Sydney. In CRCMining, they are joined by the Universities of Newcastle and Arizona.