{"id":8810,"date":"2024-08-30T07:45:47","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T21:45:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yinghuiinternational.com\/?p=8810"},"modified":"2024-09-01T07:46:58","modified_gmt":"2024-08-31T21:46:58","slug":"is-south-australia-the-worlds-next-copper-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yinghuiinternational.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/30\/is-south-australia-the-worlds-next-copper-leader\/","title":{"rendered":"Is South Australia the world\u2019s next copper leader?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

\"\"Kelsie Tibben<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"South<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Olympic Dam operation. Image: BHP<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) has weighed in on BHP\u2019s plan to more than double its copper production in the state by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BHP plans to upgrade its Olympic Dam copper smelter to a \u2018stage-two smelter\u2019, as well as expand its refining capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As one of only two copper smelters in Australia<\/strong>, the expansion will be a potential boon for the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSouth Australia was known as \u2018The Copper Kingdom\u2019 in the 1840s when copper was first discovered,\u201d SACOME chief executive officer Rebecca Knol said<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday\u2019s copper renaissance is crucial to our everyday lives and to our energy transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom EVs (electric vehicles) and charging stations to mobile devices and life-saving healthcare, copper is fuelling our lives and our net-zero ambitions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In SA, BHP currently operates the Carrapateena, Olympic Dam, Prominent Hill, and Oak Dam copper mines.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Big Australian has been outspoken<\/a> in its desire to become a global copper powerhouse, and has placed its focus directly on SA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SACOME said it is essential for state and Federal governments to ensure BHP\u2019s strategy for the smelter and refinery expansion becomes a reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are now several steps that need to be undertaken to advance the project, including an Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation determination, development of Terms of Reference, and the preparation of an environmental impact assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c(This) is a significant milestone in BHP\u2019s proposed smelter and refinery expansion, which aims to position SA as a leading global copper jurisdiction,\u201d Knol said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe State Prosperity Project<\/a> has provided a framework for strategic development that enables value-add to South Australia\u2019s already impressive resource endowment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The State Prosperity Project is a co-ordinated initiative by the SA Government to unlock the full potential of renewable energy, critical minerals and green manufacturing to herald a new era of prosperity for South Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project\u2019s key focus is the Upper Spencer Gulf, with the SA Government investing jobs and training in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subscribe to <\/em>Australian Mining<\/em><\/a> and receive the latest news on product announcements, industry developments, commodities and more.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Share this article<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kelsie Tibben The Olympic Dam operation. Image: BHP The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) has weighed in on BHP\u2019s plan to more than double its copper production in the state by 2030. BHP plans to upgrade its Olympic Dam copper smelter to a \u2018stage-two smelter\u2019, as well as expand its refining capacity. … Continue reading “Is South Australia the world\u2019s next copper leader?”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[37,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8810","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-clients","category-mines-and-quarry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p83F9T-2i6","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8536,"url":"https:\/\/yinghuiinternational.com\/index.php\/2024\/02\/27\/significant-high-copper-grades-unlocked-at-oak-dam\/","url_meta":{"origin":8810,"position":0},"title":"Significant high copper grades unlocked at Oak Dam","author":"yinghui","date":"February 27, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"OLIVIA THOMSON Image: Phawat\/stock.adobe.com An exploration program undertaken by BHP at its Oak Dam copper deposit has identified high-grades of copper deep beneath the Olympic Dam ore body, with some grades equalling more than two per cent. 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