en.Wedoany.com Reported - British business consultancy CRU has been selected to lead a government-funded research project assessing the long-term development of the copper industry in northwestern Queensland.

The study was jointly announced by Australian Federal Minister for Industry and Innovation Senator Tim Ayres and Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last. It is part of a joint federal-Queensland initiative focusing on the future development of the state's copper sector.

CRU will work with partners to conduct the assessment, analyzing the copper value chain in the North West Minerals Province, specifically covering operations from the Mount Isa Copper Smelter to the Townsville Copper Refinery.

The assessment will cover the end-to-end copper value chain in the region, utilizing market intelligence, cost analysis, and facility-level data covering mining, smelting, and refining activities. The study will also examine the long-term development opportunities facing industrial facilities, the workforce, and the broader copper industry after the current period of government financial support ends.

Hugh Greene, Global Head of Consulting at CRU, said the company is honored to be selected to lead this study. He noted that northwestern Queensland plays a critical role in Australia's copper value chain and that the project will help identify "practical pathways" to enhance the region's industrial capacity, resilience, and competitiveness over the long term.

CRU plans to maintain communication with stakeholders throughout 2026 and submit the final research report to the federal and Queensland governments by the end of the year. The North West Minerals Province is a significant critical minerals producing region in Australia, with copper mining and processing playing a key role in the local economy.

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