Applications have opened for Queensland’s 2026 mine rehabilitation scholarships, targeting emerging researchers working on post-mining land use, tailings management and progressive rehabilitation of open-cut and underground sites across the state. The programme is expected to support projects on issues such as acid mine drainage control, cover system design for waste rock and tailings, and long-term stability of backfilled pits under Queensland’s tightening rehabilitation and financial assurance regime. For consultants and operators, the scheme signals future regulatory and technical priorities for closure planning and geotechnical design.

Sunrise Energy Metals has completed the feasibility study for its Syerston scandium project in New South Wales, positioning the deposit as a potential large-scale, long-life source of scandium for global alloy and battery markets. The study confirms mine and process plant designs tailored to scandium recovery, including hydrometallurgical treatment of lateritic ore and downstream refining to high-purity scandium oxide. For engineers, the project signals future demand for scandium-bearing aluminium alloys and solid oxide fuel cell materials, with supply security moving from by-product to dedicated primary production.

Sunrise Energy Metals has completed the feasibility study for its Syerston scandium project in New South Wales, outlining Phase 1 production of 60 tonnes per year of scandium oxide (Sc2O3) over a 32‑year mine life at a capital cost of $120 million and C1 cash operating costs of $534/kg. The laterite deposit, about 450 km west of Sydney, contains nearly 46 million measured and indicated tonnes grading 414 ppm scandium, positioning it as one of the largest high‑grade scandium resources outside China. With China supplying 80–85% of global scandium and tightening exports, Syerston is being framed as a key non‑Chinese source for aerospace aluminium alloys, solid oxide fuel cells for AI data centres, and advanced electronics.