The announcement comes just days after the group added Lundin Mining as a member of its support network.

Alison Keogh, CEO of CEEC, said the partnership will help it boost its information sharing about technology and processes that add value to minerals processing.

She also noted that, as grinding for minerals and metals makes up about 3% of the world's electrical energy, Molycop is in an ideal position to contribute to and lead the way on even greater efficiencies in the industry.

Molycop vice president of innovation Paul Shelley said the company is committed to the research and development of effective, long-life products and technical support services that will not only boost productivity, but also reduce costs of operation.

"We recognise that innovation can lead to improvements in productivity and bring the sort of step change and breakthrough impact to ensure company longevity and better environmental outcomes," Shelley added. "We are proud to introduce and share leading initiatives that help industry improve in this way."

Case in point, he confirmed, was Molycop's recent announcement that it had signed a long-term power purchase arrangement (PPA) with energy retailer Flow Power for a projected generation of 100,000MWh/y of renewable energy.

The project makes up more than half of Molycop's electricity consumption in
NSW, he added: "[It] will make Molycop one of the largest purchasers of renewable energy in Australia."

The not-for-profit CEEC is funded entirely by mineral industry sponsorships. Members include Anglo American; Ausenco; CRC ORE; Eriez; FLSmidth; Gekko; Glencore Technology; Hatch; Lundin Mining; Magotteaux; ME Elecmetal; Molycop; Newmont Goldcorp; Orica; Oz Minerals; Petra Data Science; Teck Resources; Toms Institute; University of Adelaide; Weir Minerals; and Wheaton Precious Metals.