The Mining Technology Services (MTS) sector is a vital part of the broader Australian resources sector. The MTS sector is showing considerable potential for increase as a world leader in providing innovative and highly technical products and services to the global minerals industry. Many of the world's mines now use mining technologies developed by Australian companies.
The MTS sector has traditionally been difficult to define as it has lacked a unified identity. Products and services used in mining were rarely specific to the mining industry and often had applicability across sectors. Today, MTS applications have become more sector specific as demand for more sophistic and specialised solutions emerges from the sustained resources boom. MTS business cover six different categories: exploration and other mining services, machinery and equipment manufacturing, construction services, scientific research services, technical services and computer services.
Australia's vast mineral endowment is only one of the drivers of Australia's global prevalence as a significant producer of mineral commodities. Australia's mineral sector strength is also built upon the emergence of a world leading, innovative support industry that has developed alongside the mining sector to enhance Australian mining capabilities. This support industry has allowed Australian miners to exploit lower grade ore bodies, extend the life of existing ore bodies, minimise the environmental impact of mining, enhance efficiencies and improve safety. The development of the MTS sector has also been born out of imperatives to develop innovative solutions to enable resource development in harsh and remote locations.