The 17-person delegation of Turkish government and mining industry officials come to Queensland just over a year after Turkey experienced its worst mining disaster when 311 miners were lost in an underground coal mine explosion at Soma.

“Queensland has one of the safest mining industries in the world and is recognised internationally as a leader in cutting edge mine safety training and technology,” Lynham said.

“Senior Queensland government mine safety officials visited Turkey in the wake of the Soma disaster at the request of the Turkish mines minister to provide the government with expert advice on mine safety.

“Queensland is happy to work with the visiting delegation and show them the high standards of mine safety practices, training, research and technology we deliver for our mining industry.

“Commercial opportunities may also arise from this visit for Queensland to export our world-class safety technology and training expertise to help Turkey minimise risk in its mining industry.”

The Turkish delegation is at the Queensland Government’s Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station at Redbank.

Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Minister for Corrective Services Joanne Miller said Simtars was a recognised world leader in innovative mine safety training, research and technology.

“Its gas monitoring and analysis systems and software packages enable a mine to have early warning against the build-up of dangerous gases,” she said.

“They have generated more than $3.5 million in export earnings over the past five years.”

Lynham said Queensland exported its monitoring systems and mine safety expertise to countries all over the world including China, India, South Africa, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Western Europe, New Zealand and South East Asia.

“We have great potential to develop our strengths in mining equipment, technology and services to diversify our exports,” he said.

“METS have been identified as one of the five areas of the future with high global growth potential and where Australia is well positioned to take advantage of that potential.

“Queensland has 436 operating METS companies, more than any other state, with a concentration of METS company headquarters, regional METS hubs and world renowned resource focussed R&D institutions and universities.”

The 17-person delegation is being coordinated by Austrade and led by the Republic of Turkey’s Deputy Undersecretary, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Dr Nevzat Kavakli.

It will also look at mining research at the University of Queensland and CSIRO as well as visit coal mines in central Queensland.