Minister for State Development John Mickel was in Rockhampton today (May 24) to kick-off the inaugural Queensland Resources Expo (QREX) - an opportunity for Queensland's Central West to showcase its capacity to embrace and support the region's mining, resources and energy industries.

And CQU was thanked in several QREX forums for its major support for the event.

Mr Mickel said QREX would help to promote Rockhampton as the key service centre for the Southern Bowen basin.

"We know Rockhampton is best known for its beef," he said.

"But, in recognition of its close proximity to the Bowen coal basin, Rocky is actively working to position itself as a leading provider of services to the mining industry.

"The region has already built an international reputation in mining and resources through export.

"But while exports are a key driver of the Queensland resources success story, it's time to use that reputation to take Rockhampton to the next level.

"This means attracting investors, diversifying economic growth, and training more skilled workers."

Mr Mickel said the region was already looking seriously at new and cleaner ways of generating energy.

Minister John Mickel

"ZeroGen, a Government-supported company located near Stanwell Corporation's Rockhampton Power Station, for example, is proposing to build and operate a world-first demonstration plant," he said.

"It will integrate a coal gasification power plant with the capture and storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to generate low emission base-load electricity."

While in Rockhampton last month to launch the Fitzroy and Central West Centre of Enterprise, Mr Mickel said the region was full of potential.

"The Central West region is one of the State's, and potentially one of Australia's, economic powerhouses," he said.

"Even though it's home to only five per cent of the Queensland population, the region generates more than 10 per cent of our economic activity, employs more than 10 per cent of our workforce and produces more than half of the State's electricity! ."

Mr Mickel said QREX demonstrated the region's capacity to shift its focus to new areas of economic activity and diversify its growth potential.

He said the 3-day expo would feature a range of integrated activities related to mining, minerals processing, and energy generation industries and would include a trade expo where more than 250 Queensland goods and services businesses could network.

One of CQU's booths
Networking at QREX
Driving the future
Dr Chris Spero, Oxyfuel Project, CS Energy and Professor Elizabeth Taylor at the conference - photo by Katherine Spackman
Networking underway at QREX - photo by Katherine Spackman
Mingling at QREX - photo by Katherine Spackman
Mayor Margaret Srelow at QREX photo by Katherine Spackman
Ros Kelly and delegates at QREX - photo by Katherine Spackman