The METS Sector in Western Australia
Western Australia’s METS sector is the global resources technology base for the Asian and Indian Ocean regions, centred on servicing the global scale resource projects operating in Western Australia.
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) member survey for 2018-19 reported that the resources sector purchased from 14,464 businesses operating in Western Australia. Of these businesses, the Industry Capability Network notes that there are 1,702 specialised METS companies in the state.
Western Australian based METS companies are held in high regard internationally for being technology leading and able to operate in the world’s harshest and most remote conditions.
According to the Mining Journal Intelligence: Global METS Investment Report 2020 of the 100 top METS companies globally, 77 operate in Western Australia, of which 22 are head quartered in the state.
Attracted by the strength of Western Australia’s mining sector, many international METS companies have chosen to expand their operations to include Perth, Western Australia, through acquisitions, partnerships or establishing their own operations. Some of the international companies servicing the mining sector through their Western Australian operations include ABB, Atlas Copco, Sandvik, Hitachi, Komatsu, METSO, Outotec, Thyssen Krupp and General Electric.
Why Establish a METS Operation in Western Australia
In 2019-20, Western Australia delivered resource sales valued at $172 billion. Western Australia is a leading global resources precinct with a substantial global share of production for major and strategic commodities. In 2019, WA had significant shares of global resources production including 59% of lithium, 32% of iron ore; 29% of garnet; 13% of LNG; 12% of rare earths; 12% of zircon; 11% of alumina; 11% of diamonds, 6%t of gold; 6% of nickel; 5% of ilmenite; 4% of cobalt; and 4% of salt.
Western Australia has 0.03% of the global population. Western Australian mining operators have developed this scale of production capacity with a small population base through local development of leading technology, services and equipment. Western Australia is the global leader in autonomous and remote mining operations. There are over 400 operating autonomous haul trucks across iron ore and open cut gold operations with more than 150 autonomous haul trucks to be added to the fleet. There are also 48 autonomous drilling rigs in operations at mine site
With $1.7 billion spent on mineral exploration and $596 million on petroleum exploration in 2019-20, representing 61% and 47% respectively of all Australian exploration, there is an ongoing resource development pipeline creating long term opportunities.
Western Australia is an ethical and sustainable resources precinct with low sovereign risk.
