City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder councillors have voted to lease council land to BHP for temporary worker accommodation, with a total of 1152 new rooms to be built.
Located in Somerville, the three-year lease agreement is touted to bring in $1.3 million a year to the council in rent and rates.
The camp has also been granted three one-year options after the initial leasing period.
BHP will now seek building approval for the camp, which will house workers for the construction of a furnace rebuild for the company’s nickel smelter as part of its Nickel West division.
“This is a big decision for the city, and we want to do what is best for our community long term,” City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder mayor John Bowler said.
“BHP have advised that 60 per cent of its workforce for its Kalgoorlie nickel smelter renewal project would be housed in the temporary village and this would not only ease the burden on residential housing but also have significant benefits for the local economy.”
BHP’s submission was recommended to the council due to the significant financial return it could create in terms of future services for ratepayers.
These funds will be held in city’s future projects reserve for the development of the area as traditional residential housing.
Kalgoorlie-Boulder deputy mayor Glenn Wilson told the ABC the camp is necessary to reduce pressure on the city’s housing market.
“We’ve already got $900-a-week rents in Lamington and that will only increase, putting further strain on family budgets,” he said.
BHP’s WA operations supply nickel to world markets for use in electric vehicle batteries and other growing technologies with an aim to support global decarbonisation.
BHP employs 2500 people across its Nickel West operations, a large portion of which are fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workers.
Onetrak has officially opened its Sydney branch in Moorebank, located 27km from the Sydney business district and nearby the M5 Motorway and M7 interchange.
The new Sydney branch is the eighth Onetrak branch. The company has locations around Australia including Bridgewater in Tasmania’s south, Somerset in Tasmania’s north, Hallam in Victoria, Tumut in New South Wales, Albany in Western Australia, Mt Gambier in South Australia and Caboolture in Queensland.
Onetrak is home to large brands within the earthmoving, forestry, material handling and extractive industries. The business offering includes new and used machine sales, rental equipment, service and parts.
Onetrak’s brand portfolio includes Hidromek, Tigercat, Striker, Anaconda, Dressta, Terex Fuchs, EIW Nirox, Alicon, Timber Max, Veriga and Rotobec nationwide and additionally it has Hyundai in Tasmania only.
The company’s regional manager for QLD and NSW, Brad Madden, will be heading the branch and is looking forward to being a part of Onetrak’s growth in the Sydney area.
“Onetrak have had a presence in Sydney for the last three years gradually stepping into the market as we grew,” he said.
“The time has now come to commit to our own facility, and we are excited and serious about providing service and support for our customers. We are currently running two fully maintained service vehicles, have a sales team and parts support for the area. The move into our new facility at Moorebank provides us with a large yard, plenty of hard stand area, office space to accommodate our team and a large warehouse.
“We will be able to hold more parts to make a quicker turn around for our valued customers along with a large workshop space to better service our customers machinery. I personally am excited about the growth we are seeing in Sydney and am excited to be a part of the Sydney journey.”
Onetrak managing director David Hazell said it was important to establish a presence in Sydney as part of the company’s business plan to become a truly national heavy equipment dealer.
“With the help of our loyal customers and fantastic brands, Onetrak has grown beyond our original expectations, and it was important we established a full-time presence in Sydney to better support our growing client base and key franchises in this important region,” Hazell said.
“We are extremely fortunate to have some of the most talented and dedicated employees in the industry working for Onetrak and it’s the company’s family feel and commitment to providing exceptional customer service that has allowed us to grow and prosper in what is otherwise a saturated and competitive space.
“We really look forward to growing and expanding the business further in conjunction with our people and providing a level of customer service that is recognised with our Onetrak brand”.
The Sydney branch is located at 9 Helles Ave, Moorebank, and can be contacted at 02 8729 8400.
Evolution Mining has released an updated mineral resource estimate for its Ernest Henry project.
Ernest Henry is located 38km north-east of Cloncurry, Queenslandand is a large-scale copper-gold operation. Its mine life was extended in June of this year.
As of June 30, the Ernest Henry mineral resource is estimated at 101.5 million tonnes at 1.25 per cent copper and 0.73 grams per tonne (g/t) gold for 1.3 million tonnes of contained copper and 2.4 million ounces of contained gold.
This is an increase of 6.7 million tonnes, 76,000 ounces of contained gold and 63,000 tonnes of contained copper compared to the December 31 2022 mineral resource estimate (MRE).
The new MRE was said to be informed by results from 26 new drill holes completed from January 1 to March 8.
The new MRE will now inform the Ernest Henry extension feasibility study engineering work following the results of the mine extension pre-feasibility study that demonstrated an opportunity to extend the Ernest Henry mine life by 17 years to 2040.
“Ernest Henry continues to demonstrate its world class status with additional mineral resource growth since the previous estimate with the addition of only 26 new holes,” Evolution Mining chief executive officer Lawrie Conway said.
“This is the fourth increase in the first 18 months of 100 per cent ownership, with a net increase of 41–44 per cent in contained metal over this period.
“Resource increases outside the mine extension feasibility study footprint highlights the excellent potential for further resource growth and the potential to operate the plant at full capacity over the full 17-year mine life extension to 2040.”
WA Limestone wanted a rock breaker with some “meat on the bones” to handle its hard rock quarry in Onslow.
Western Australia’s northwest is a rugged environment, characterised by gruelling conditions and tough rock. It is here where WA Limestone, one of the state’s biggest aggregate suppliers, can be found.
Steven Della Bona, director at WA Limestone, said the material is a very hard rock to mine, because it is so dense, abrasive, and hard.
“The wear factors and the damage that it does on your machines is pretty horrendous,” he said.
“You need the right machinery and the right wear parts on your machinery.”
The family-owned company found Kobelco’s SK500XD to be the answer for a heavy-duty machine that can handle abrasive aggregate.
Kobelco’s SK500XD weighs in at 52,200 kg, making it one of the heaviest machines in its class.
It features a heavy-duty boom and arm set as well as factory-fitted, triple-plated, hardened steel applied to all key structural sections.
This includes the boom-to-arm connection, the boom centre, and the end of the arm, providing a high level of durability and longevity to the attachment structures.
A specially designed full-length rock guard is installed on the inside of the dipper arm, on top of additional steel plating.
A quadruple track guide frame and reinforced heavy-duty 600mm triple grouser shoe provide reliability in rocky underfoot conditions, making easy work of rough terrain.
The durability of the track links has also increased, while the idler frame has received substantial double reinforcement plating inside and out, resulting in improved undercarriage reliability which prevents premature wear.
The heavy-duty steel bolted underbody guard protects vital machine components and provides additional weight for greater stability.
The additional metal, which helps the SK500XD handle the Onslow quarry site, is a key feature for WA Limestone.
“I was pretty impressed by the extra steel on the track frames and the extra steel and reinforcement around the arm, the excavator frame and the dipper arm,” Della Bona said.
“Being in the conditions that we operate in and especially with the hard rock you need a machine that can handle the bumps, hard rocks and all the stresses and pressures.
“The machine has worked really well and hasn’t let us down at all, it’s been reliable and done everything that we asked it to do.”
WA Limestone partnered with Kobelco to optimise its operations.
It is powered by a Hino Toyota engine, alongside Kawasaki pumps and hydraulics, which delivers 257 kW of power and an average fuel consumption of under 30L per hour. This helps the SK500XD generate a breakout force of 293 kN, and slew torque of 183 kN.
The hydraulic system notifies the operator if
filter performance is compromised which helps manage maintenance and reduce downtime.
“They’re a proven hydraulic pump and hydraulic system so there is no reason why we wouldn’t get a good run out of them.
The company has road-tested several machines over its five decades in the industry. Della Bona, who has been with the company for 38 years, understands what makes a quality machine.
“I was trying to find a dedicated rock-breaking machine and I rang a couple of clients who run them, and they had nothing but good words to say,” Della Bona said.
“I was able to buy that machine pretty quickly and get it up and running and that was a big part of the decision-making.
“I am keen to see how it continues to perform but we’re really happy with it.”
Kobelco has confidence in the machine’s ability to handle the demanding conditions of the Australian worksite providing an extended major component warranty of four years or 6000 hours.
Mark Johnson, Kobelco Australia’s general manager of product and distribution, said the machine has all the tools to be a hit.
“It’s engineered for the most extreme environments around the world,” he said.
“It also builds on Kobelco’s excellent reputation for machine reliability, taking it to a new level by providing a factory-installed, comprehensive set of structural reinforcements—not to mention class-leading digging performance and fuel efficiency.
“The result is a machine that is the perfect choice for quarry work.”
Holcim Grantville has two AG45s on site which are made for the conditions and driving the clay tracks.
Holcim Australia’s Grantville Quarry utilises two articulated dump trucks and two front-loaders to stay on top of the competition, thanks to a partnership with Delta Rent.
The Grantville Quarry, which is a joint venture between Holcim and Boral, has relied on rented machines from Delta Rent for more than a decade, to ensure it can meet demanding workloads. The quarry supplies Holcim and Boral internally with sand for manufacturing concrete.
Holcim Australia’s Grantville Quarry site supervisor Ron Walker said with the operation being a joint venture, using machinery from Delta on-site provided access to the latest machines without significant up front investment.
Holcim Grantville has two L260Hs on-site and has been impressed with its handling of on-site conditions.
Delta’s rental division, established in 2005, offers flexible short-term, medium, and long-term rental plans to help any site or project-specific requirement. The heavy plant hire division operates across Australia with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide.
“As we operate a joint venture between Boral and Holcim we tend not to own our equipment/machinery,” Walker said.
“So, we partner with Delta Rent – giving our employees access to the latest state-of-the-art reliable machines. This is imperative as our operation is reasonably high hours for a rental.”
Holcim’s Grantville site, located around 90 minutes from Melbourne, needed machines that could handle the clay track around the site in the wet and sodden tracks in the Victorian winter.
The Volvo L260H’s larger bucket capacity of 7.1 cubic metres compared to previous models to improve efficiency.
Delta Rent, which has one of the largest rental fleets in Australia, supplied the Victorian operation with two articulated dump trucks and two front-wheel loaders.
The articulated dump trucks are designed for off-road sites which require heavy-duty usage, predictive gear selection, downhill speed control and a high payload capability.
Walker said it was crucial Delta Rent was able to match the needs of the site with machines in its fleet.
“They run through pretty hard conditions in winter and all our tracks are clay, which can become quite wet. Despite the weather conditions, we still need to operate as much as we can,” Walker said.
“Delta Rent provides us with very reliable trucks, along with superior comfort for the operators.”
One of the key features the front end wheel loaders offer is a large capacity of 7.1 cubic metres, allowing 11.5 per cent more material to be loaded than previous models. This enables the road trucks to be loaded and sent out faster, increasing the site’s efficiency.
Delta Rent Account Manager Andrew Hagan said the company focused on the customer’s needs, with a rental and service based model that customers can rely on to help operations run smoothly.
In the case of the articulated hauler, its ability to handle “wet and uneven terrain very well” became a major factor given Holcim’s Grantville site, according to Hagan.
“The turnaround time to get trucks in and loaded was definitely seen as a benefit because they didn’t want trucks lining up at the gate, you just want them out.”
“Fuel burn was also a critical factor to the operation to lower production costs.”
“The support and 24–7 service Delta Rent provides is reliable, consistent, and gives our customers comfort knowing they can access immediate help when they need it,” he said.
Delta Rent provides maintenance on the high-risk and capital-intensive machines to ease pressures for workers on-site.
The support system minimises unexpected maintenance and associated downtime.
“We rely on Delta’s after-hours service, so when something breaks down and we need it repaired pretty quickly, they’re onto it immediately,” Walker said.
“I manage the gear and liaise with Delta to do all the repairs and upkeep of the trucks. They’re usually pretty prompt getting out and getting the gear repaired as quickly as they can, which works for us because if the machine isn’t running, it is downtime for us and loss of production.”
Walker, who has spent around 40 years in the industry, really appreciates the level of service and quality of the machines.
“They’ve always been a good company to deal with, and they’re very good at keeping their gear on the move,” Walker said.
“Knowing Delta Rent is there helps us maintain focus on our core business.”
UGL has moved to a new manufacturing facility in Auburn, New South Wales, from where it will continue to support the railway industry.
The facility is more modern than the previous one and better equipped at accommodating people living with a disability. It will be more efficient, comprised of one single facility rather than lots of small buildings.
The move comes after the company spent nearly 50 years at its former location, in Milperra.
UGL Managing Director Doug Moss said the company was constantly evolving and remained a leader in the rail industry.
“Our new Auburn facility will allow us to grow and continue to innovate, but it’s our people that make UGL great,” he said.
“We are lucky enough to have a breadth of knowledge and experience, with some of our employees working for us for 30 years or more.
“We are a local manufacturer employing local people, using the latest in innovative design and combining it with all that fantastic experience.”
A sustainable approach to the move was undertaken, achieving:
71.6 tonnes of steel recycled
11.2t of aluminium recycled
10.5t of copper recycled
13.5t of paper and cardboard
The new manufacturing facility produces, repairs and tests signalling equipment and traction equipment, including:
Signal wayside equipment
Solid state interlocking
Train protection systems
Trackside cabinets
Rectifiers for traction power
Heavy DC traction circuit breakers
The site will play a crucial role within the industry, with UGL’s radio and signalling construction teams currently supporting major NSW infrastructure projects.
As well, UGL strives to transform train travel by supporting Future Railway Mobile Communication Systems (FRMCS) in Australia once the standards are finalised in Europe, and through the adoption of new technologies.
“It may be a new address, but we have the same high standard of quality and commitment our clients and communities have experienced for decades,” Moss said.
Strandline’s project portfolio contains high quality assets which offer a range of development options and timelines, geographic diversity, and scalability. They include the world-scale Coburn mineral sands project in Western Australia, currently ramping up into production, and the emerging Tanzanian mineral sands growth projects Fungoni, Tajiri, and Bagamoyo.
Strandline’s exploration and development focuses primarily on discovering and evaluating mineral sands ore bodies that show an abundance of higher value minerals, nominally zircon, rutile and monazite, with the lesser value minerals of ilmenite and garnet as a co-product to the product suite.
Mineral sands are heavy minerals found in sediments on, or near to, the surface of ancient beach, river or dunal system. Strandline’s proposed mineral sands mining method involves both dry mining (Coburn and Fungoni projects) and wet hydraulic mining (Tajiri project). Mining units and wet concentration plant (WCP) separate the heavy valuable minerals (zircon, monazite, rutile, leucoxene, ilmenite) from the waste material. The WCP design utilises multiple stages of high-capacity gravity separation and classification to produce a high grade +90% heavy mineral concentrate (HMC).
South32’s Sierra Gorda copper mine in Chile. Image: South32
ARI was on hand for a recent fireside chat with South32 CEO Graham Kerr, who reflected on how the major mining company has gotten to where it is today.
South32, which was demerged from BHP in 2015, describes itself as a “globally diversified mining and metals company” and is now transitioning to become a key manganese producer in the US.
The company’s future is certainly bright, but chief executive officer Graham Kerr admitted South32 initially had a portfolio that could only be described as a “mixed bag”.
“Within BHP, there are lots of assets that have a lot of opportunity for development in the future that weren’t quite getting the love or systems they needed,” he said during a fireside chat at a recent Melbourne Mining Club luncheon.
“For me, the demerger was a great opportunity for both companies to be better than what they were together. (And) both companies have continued to change and evolve.”
South32’s commodity mix included energy coal, metallurgical coal and manganese, with nickel, lead, silver, zinc and aluminium also featuring in the portfolio.
It was from this position that Kerr and his colleagues set about finding potential in base metals.
Eight years on, the company’s portfolio has changed a lot since Kerr sat in the first South32 meeting with then-chairman David Crawford.
“We certainly had a belief for what assets belonged in South32 and what assets didn’t belong in South32,” Kerr said.
“If you take a step back, what we did actually recognise is if you look at the world today, with a lot of the M&A activity that occurred in the prior two decades, most of the mid-tier mining companies had disappeared.
“So part of the advantage of South32 was it’s a mid-tier-sized mining company … and for a mid-tier company, you only need one or two great discoveries or one or two great acquisitions and you can fundamentally change the nature of the group and create a lot of value for your stakeholders.
“It was clear some commodities had a more attractive future than others. We talked about wanting copper and we did talk about expanding our zinc and nickel presence, and those commodities in particular have been far more attractive in a world of decarbonisation.”
South32 chief executive officer Graham Kerr.
Those discussions laid the foundations for South32 as the company transitioned its portfolio and projects to be largely based in the Americas.
The US Government’s recent endorsement of the Hermosa project, located in southern Arizona, has meant South32 could become the country’s primary manganese producer.
Hermosa, which has the potential to produce manganese and zinc, has been added to the FAST-41 project list, which is designed to create better processes for complex critical infrastructure projects. Hermosa is one of the first mining projects to join the program, which could assist it with obtaining federal permits for the development of South32’s Taylor and Clark deposits, both of which are located within the Hermosa project.
According to Kerr, once the Taylor and Clark projects are up and running, South32’s portfolio composition will rise to 85 per cent base metals, with majority of the company’s value in the Americas.
“The inclusion of Hermosa as the first mining project added to the FAST-41 process is an important milestone that recognises the project’s potential to strengthen the domestic supply of critical minerals in the US,” Kerr said. “The project presents a significant opportunity to sustainably produce commodities critical to a low-carbon future.”
South32 is advancing a Clark feasibility study, with a pilot plant recently commencing production. A feasibility study for the Taylor deposit is expected to be completed later this year.
A key part of the project will see South32 engage with local communities to ensure the project has flow-on benefits to the surrounding area.
“Becoming a covered FAST-41 project will make the rigorous federal environmental review and permitting process for this project more transparent, predictable and inclusive for all stakeholders,” South32 Hermosa president Pat Risner said.
“We are committed to working closely with the US Forest Service, cooperating agencies, Native American tribes, and local stakeholders in Santa Cruz County in Arizona to develop this project in a way that benefits the community, minimises impact on the environment, and creates opportunities across the region.”
Alongside its US assets, South32 also has growth options in South America, including a bright future for its Sierra Gorda copper mine in Chile.
South32 purchased a 45 per cent stake in Sierra Gorda in February 2022, but while the company has long been keen to boost its copper presence, it took time to warm up to Sierra Gorda.
“How many people in the room have watched Shrek with their kids before?” Kerr asked the Melbourne Mining Club audience. “There’s a bit where the donkey is talking to Shrek and says, ‘Shrek, you’re like an onion. You’ve got to take the layers off the onion to understand what you’ve actually got’.
“When the business development team first brought Sierra Gorda to me, I was probably like most other people in the market and thought, ‘This is a challenged asset. It’s got a history of having a challenging ramp-up and there’s very little information in the marketplace about it’.
“Every challenge we gave to the business development team to take a layer off that onion, they came back with more positive results.
“In the end, we became convinced that it was the right thing to do.
“We’ve had it for about a year now and we’re really happy with the acquisition. We’ve been really surprised by the upside in the asset and the quality of the people.”
South32’s Hermosa project in southern Arizona.
Alongside its Chile presence, South32 is also involved in earn-in agreements with two emerging copper exploration projects in Argentina – Chita Valley and Don Julio.
South32 recently exercised its earn-in right to acquire a 50.1 per cent interest in the Chita Valley project following a three-year exploration partnership with Minsud Resources Corp.
The major miner signed an earn-in agreement with Sable Resources to explore Don Julio in 2021, with drilling advancing at the project.
Kerr said Argentina could be a copper jurisdiction to keep an eye on in years to come.
“Argentina’s become an interesting location,” he said.
“When we first started doing some work there, we were probably the only ones. You’ve got BHP there, you’ve got Barrick there, you’ve Glencore there – everyone’s sort of pouring money into that jurisdiction at the moment.
“If you look at where it is, it’s on the other side of the Chile mountains where basically all the copper is.
“So I think that’s an area that’s going to develop pretty quickly.”
Whether it’s the Hermosa project in the US, a suite of emerging projects in South America, or any other ‘future-facing’ asset in South32’s portfolio, the company has plenty of avenues to be part of the world’s decarbonisation narrative in the years to come.
And given South32’s strong track record of project execution and expansion, the company’s shareholders can rest assured their stock is in the right place.
South32’s Sierra Gorda copper mine in Chile. Image: South32
ARI was on hand for a recent fireside chat with South32 CEO Graham Kerr, who reflected on how the major mining company has gotten to where it is today.
South32, which was demerged from BHP in 2015, describes itself as a “globally diversified mining and metals company” and is now transitioning to become a key manganese producer in the US.
The company’s future is certainly bright, but chief executive officer Graham Kerr admitted South32 initially had a portfolio that could only be described as a “mixed bag”.
“Within BHP, there are lots of assets that have a lot of opportunity for development in the future that weren’t quite getting the love or systems they needed,” he said during a fireside chat at a recent Melbourne Mining Club luncheon.
“For me, the demerger was a great opportunity for both companies to be better than what they were together. (And) both companies have continued to change and evolve.”
South32’s commodity mix included energy coal, metallurgical coal and manganese, with nickel, lead, silver, zinc and aluminium also featuring in the portfolio.
It was from this position that Kerr and his colleagues set about finding potential in base metals.
Eight years on, the company’s portfolio has changed a lot since Kerr sat in the first South32 meeting with then-chairman David Crawford.
“We certainly had a belief for what assets belonged in South32 and what assets didn’t belong in South32,” Kerr said.
“If you take a step back, what we did actually recognise is if you look at the world today, with a lot of the M&A activity that occurred in the prior two decades, most of the mid-tier mining companies had disappeared.
“So part of the advantage of South32 was it’s a mid-tier-sized mining company … and for a mid-tier company, you only need one or two great discoveries or one or two great acquisitions and you can fundamentally change the nature of the group and create a lot of value for your stakeholders.
“It was clear some commodities had a more attractive future than others. We talked about wanting copper and we did talk about expanding our zinc and nickel presence, and those commodities in particular have been far more attractive in a world of decarbonisation.”
South32 chief executive officer Graham Kerr.
Those discussions laid the foundations for South32 as the company transitioned its portfolio and projects to be largely based in the Americas.
The US Government’s recent endorsement of the Hermosa project, located in southern Arizona, has meant South32 could become the country’s primary manganese producer.
Hermosa, which has the potential to produce manganese and zinc, has been added to the FAST-41 project list, which is designed to create better processes for complex critical infrastructure projects. Hermosa is one of the first mining projects to join the program, which could assist it with obtaining federal permits for the development of South32’s Taylor and Clark deposits, both of which are located within the Hermosa project.
According to Kerr, once the Taylor and Clark projects are up and running, South32’s portfolio composition will rise to 85 per cent base metals, with majority of the company’s value in the Americas.
“The inclusion of Hermosa as the first mining project added to the FAST-41 process is an important milestone that recognises the project’s potential to strengthen the domestic supply of critical minerals in the US,” Kerr said. “The project presents a significant opportunity to sustainably produce commodities critical to a low-carbon future.”
South32 is advancing a Clark feasibility study, with a pilot plant recently commencing production. A feasibility study for the Taylor deposit is expected to be completed later this year.
A key part of the project will see South32 engage with local communities to ensure the project has flow-on benefits to the surrounding area.
“Becoming a covered FAST-41 project will make the rigorous federal environmental review and permitting process for this project more transparent, predictable and inclusive for all stakeholders,” South32 Hermosa president Pat Risner said.
“We are committed to working closely with the US Forest Service, cooperating agencies, Native American tribes, and local stakeholders in Santa Cruz County in Arizona to develop this project in a way that benefits the community, minimises impact on the environment, and creates opportunities across the region.”
Alongside its US assets, South32 also has growth options in South America, including a bright future for its Sierra Gorda copper mine in Chile.
South32 purchased a 45 per cent stake in Sierra Gorda in February 2022, but while the company has long been keen to boost its copper presence, it took time to warm up to Sierra Gorda.
“How many people in the room have watched Shrek with their kids before?” Kerr asked the Melbourne Mining Club audience. “There’s a bit where the donkey is talking to Shrek and says, ‘Shrek, you’re like an onion. You’ve got to take the layers off the onion to understand what you’ve actually got’.
“When the business development team first brought Sierra Gorda to me, I was probably like most other people in the market and thought, ‘This is a challenged asset. It’s got a history of having a challenging ramp-up and there’s very little information in the marketplace about it’.
“Every challenge we gave to the business development team to take a layer off that onion, they came back with more positive results.
“In the end, we became convinced that it was the right thing to do.
“We’ve had it for about a year now and we’re really happy with the acquisition. We’ve been really surprised by the upside in the asset and the quality of the people.”
South32’s Hermosa project in southern Arizona.
Alongside its Chile presence, South32 is also involved in earn-in agreements with two emerging copper exploration projects in Argentina – Chita Valley and Don Julio.
South32 recently exercised its earn-in right to acquire a 50.1 per cent interest in the Chita Valley project following a three-year exploration partnership with Minsud Resources Corp.
The major miner signed an earn-in agreement with Sable Resources to explore Don Julio in 2021, with drilling advancing at the project.
Kerr said Argentina could be a copper jurisdiction to keep an eye on in years to come.
“Argentina’s become an interesting location,” he said.
“When we first started doing some work there, we were probably the only ones. You’ve got BHP there, you’ve got Barrick there, you’ve Glencore there – everyone’s sort of pouring money into that jurisdiction at the moment.
“If you look at where it is, it’s on the other side of the Chile mountains where basically all the copper is.
“So I think that’s an area that’s going to develop pretty quickly.”
Whether it’s the Hermosa project in the US, a suite of emerging projects in South America, or any other ‘future-facing’ asset in South32’s portfolio, the company has plenty of avenues to be part of the world’s decarbonisation narrative in the years to come.
And given South32’s strong track record of project execution and expansion, the company’s shareholders can rest assured their stock is in the right place.
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