New minerals institute CEO seeks industry input

The new Chief Executive of the New Zealand Institute for Minerals to Materials Research (NZIMMR), Tony Hogg, takes up the role this month. Photo: NZIMMR.

The new Chief Executive of the New Zealand Institute for Minerals to Materials Research (NZIMMR), Tony Hogg, takes up the role this month after returning to his home in Greymouth. He will be working from Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s Greymouth campus, where the NZIMMR is based.

He says his first job will be visiting mines and discussing their research needs. He wants to find out what problems mining operators have and how NZIMMR can help fix them.

For example, Inside Resources reported that NZIMMR Non-Executive Director Derek Charge told delegates at the New Zealand Minerals Forum in Queenstown the NZIMMR could develop economic ways of separating tungsten ore and other high-value rare earth elements out of gold tailings.

It could help developers process mined materials into a commercially-viable form, e.g. metal ore concentrate to reduce shipping costs, or solve a problem with unusual mineralisation.

The NZIMMR would explore opportunities beyond the pilot areas of carbon foam, REEs, and tungsten, Charge said.

Tony’s new appointment follows more than a decade working in the international research, development and commercialisation field. His background spans industry, primarily focused on the electricity reticulation sector both in New Zealand and overseas. He has held the role of General Manager of Pipetec, providing gas and liquid pipeline development to major subdivisions across New Zealand. His experience covers product development at a global level, as well as process automation, creating strong barriers of entry, getting products developed into market and entrepreneurial endeavours.

The New Zealand Institute for Minerals to Materials Research is the third successful Regional Research Institute to receive funding from MBIE.

The new institute will explore using innovative research and manufacturing techniques to convert minerals into higher-value products.

The Government will provide funding of $11 million over four years for the new institute. With additional funding from industry, it will operate as a private, independently-governed organisation.

Date posted: 15 June 2018

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