New Zealand Institute for Minerals to Materials Research

The New Zealand Institute for Minerals to Materials Research (NZIMMR) will drive a step change in value and thinking in use of New Zealand's mineral resources, which currently generate $3B p.a., with $400M p.a. of this from the West Coast of the South Island. NZIMMR will substantially increase the prosperity of the West Coast region and New Zealand, through moving the focus of activities from mining of minerals to manufacturing from minerals. The potential for value add can be demonstrated with the mineral scheelite, currently unused but accumulating in mine tailings piles. Export of unprocessed scheelite might generate $56M export revenue p.a. and GDP impact of $50M p.a. However, export refined tungsten and manufactured products could generate $337M and $555M GDP impact p.a. and create 1600 new jobs.

The NZIMMR will carry out research projects which, in the first instance, will be in three areas defined as priorities by the Establishment Group in consultation with industry and on the basis of the overarching principles driving the NZIMMR which are:

• Need-driven minerals to materials development.
• Add value at every stage in the minerals to materials to products value chain.
• Mine once, mine completely - accessing multiple minerals in resources.
• Drive connections, engagement and open innovation across the value chain to achieve economies of scale and innovations that unlock market opportunities.
• Kaitakitanga - incorporating environmental awareness into all activities of the NZIMMR.

Initial research areas:

• Rare Earth Elements (REE) - focussing on purification and development of materials for use in magnets and lasers in building on the presence of multiple REE in NZ mineral deposits.
• Tungsten - focussing on extraction of tungsten concentrate from gold mining waste material and on development of metal powders.
• Carbon - focussing on carbon foams as a high value added product to which NZ coals are well suited.

The New Zealand Institute for Minerals to Materials Research (NZIMMR) continues its mission to substantially increase the prosperity of the West Coast region and New Zealand, through identifying opportunities and developing technologies to produce value-added materials from New Zealand’s mineral estate rather than focusing on the export of raw minerals.

NZIMMR is undertaking research and commercial work focused on creating new industries that will benefit the West Coast and New Zealand through creating value with our industry partners by finding pathways to move minerals up the value chain. In 2020/21 NZIMMR strengthened relationships with iwi, industry, research collaborators, government, Development West Coast and end users to advance its mission.

NZIMMR continue to work in partnership with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae, which is fundamental to the organisation from top to bottom. This partnership is strengthened by enhanced cultural work NZIMMR is undertaking and working to co-create projects from the outset with mana whenua. The pounamu project funded via MBIE Vision Matauranga funding is a great example of this partnership. This relationship will assist NZIMMR to create similar partnerships with iwi outside of Tai Poutinu.

In 2020/21 NZIMMR underwent structural change to align with a revised strategy that is focused on undertaking research to shift minerals up the value chain and ensure it is financially sustainable as the original contract with MBIE closes in June 2022. NZIMMR has undertaken conservative forecasting work that shows it will be financially sustainable post the MBIE contract and will continue to grow its revenue streams to ensure this continues. It has undertaken commercial lab work for gold, coal and mineral sand mining companies in its Waimatuku laboratories. NZIMMR has MOU’s and NDA’s with several companies with a focus of converting these to commercially viable opportunities moving forward.

In 2020/21 NZIMMR invested in a small shareholding in a West Coast owned gold buying and mining professional services company Tai Poutini Resources Ltd. The investment was three-fold and provides a shareholder return in the future, overhead reduction through sharing resources and strong links into the companies Tai Poutini Resources Ltd interacts with through its gold buying and professional services team. This partnership has led to enhanced research and commercial opportunities with the gold mining industry in particular.

In March 2021 NZIMMR submitted an Endeavour funding application for an advanced carbon project titled Responding to the Climate Emergency: reengineering carbon for industry transformation. The total application was for $10.5M (excluding GST) and aimed to support value-add and high-tech transformation of current commodity materials and transformation of an entire industry and the supply chain that it supports. The research programme focussed on emerging carbon-based technologies to produce new products: next generation batteries, water purification technologies, low-cost and high-performance construction materials, composites for sailing boats, aircraft, and rockets, and components for hydrogen production and storage. These technologies rely on the ability for carbon to be reengineered in repeatable ways at scale. The NZIMMR led bid comprised research collaborators from the Universities of Auckland and Canterbury, Verum, GNS and international collaborators. The bid received support from iwi leaders, local government leaders and members of parliament in the West Coast region, all the major coal companies, end users, Development West Coast, and industry groups. Although unsuccessful, through the bid preparation process NZIMMR built a significant programme of work and opportunities it is now pursuing at pace, which may see it make a revised application funding bid whilst pursuing other related opportunities at pace.

NZIMMR has undertaken commercial work and formed partnerships with mineral sand companies on the West Coast. The work NZIMMR is undertaking in this space has the potential to add significant value to the sector and meet the NZIMMR KPI’s and objectives relating to investment in the region from the research work it undertakes. The research NZIMMR is undertaking in this area has the potential to create a new industry in New Zealand and fits the government direction in green mineral exploration and aligns with critical minerals required for the future economy.

Both the advanced carbon and advanced mineral recovery research NZIMMR is undertaking is focused on NZIMMR’s original overarching principles:

• Need-driven minerals to materials development.
• Add value at every stage in the minerals to materials to products value chain.
• Mine once, mine completely - accessing multiple minerals in resources.
• Drive connections, engagement and open innovation across the value chain to achieve economies of scale and innovations that unlock market opportunities.
• Kaitiakitanga - incorporating environmental awareness into all activities of the NZIMMR.

NZIMMR expects in 2021/22 to convert its internal research projects into commercially viable opportunities. Its work relating to fine gold recovery, coal to carbon advanced carbon products for the future economy, advanced mineral recovery, rare earth element separation work and further opportunities with pounamu in partnership with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae are clear focus areas to be advanced. NZIMMR is also connecting with end users and companies to drive innovative products for the future economy.

NZIMMR is well on its way to meeting the KPI’s set in the MBIE contract with a particular focus on enhancing its Vision Matauranga objectives, adding capacity and capability into the New Zealand science system through impact and creating enhanced economic activity and investment on the back of its research and other activity. NZIMMR has 4 FTE staff working in its research team 3 with PhD level qualifications. This is complimented by a further 0.4 FTE PhD via 2 external researchers contracted to NZIMMR to work on projects with our team.

NZIMMR expects 2021/22 to be a year of delivery that sees opportunities realised from the projects it has worked on in partnership with iwi, industry, and collaborators. In particular the advanced carbon, advanced mineral recovery, rare earth element, and pounamu projects will be advanced. These projects have both research and commercial focus that ensures NZIMMR continues to build revenue opportunities to ensure its financial sustainability into the future. NZIMMR’s financial sustainability is focussed on winning competitive research funding, commercial work through its Waimatuku laboratories, consultancy work and commercial ventures.

NZIMMR is served well by an experienced board that is well balanced and focussed on achieving NZIMMR’s strategy and objectives to add value to the West Coast and New Zealand through its research. The board has a good mix of industry, iwi, research and commercial experience and connections.

NZIMMR is appreciative of the support that iwi, industry, and others have provided to it. In particular Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae, Development West Coast, Birchfield Coal Ltd, Westland Minerals Sands Co. Ltd and so many others.