Mount Isa: moving on up
After 60 years of copper mining in North West Queensland, the Mount Isa Mines underground copper operations, comprising Enterprise, X41, Black Rock and its copper concentrator will close in the second half of 2025.
In its heyday, it was the second largest copper producer in Australia and a key asset in Glencore’s global mining portfolio. Now, about 1,200 people are grappling with looming job loss in the small mining town of Mount Isa with a population of about 22,000.
Glencore chief operating officer of Australian zinc assets Sam Strohmayr says Mount Isa Mines will continue operating its zinc mining and processing assets in the region.
“Glencore will continue to invest in the long-term future of Mount Isa Mines, including the George Fisher Mine with a current life of mine to 2036, and our zinc- lead concentrator and lead smelter.
“We also expect the copper smelter and refinery to continue operating to 2030, subject to approval of additional capital investment.
“These are important strategic assets, not just for Glencore but for the North West Minerals Province and the future of Queensland’s critical minerals industry.”
$50m supporting Mount Isa mine workers
The Queensland Government has plans to grow Mount Isa.
Its $30m Mount Isa Mining Acceleration Program will speed up mining projects in the resource-rich North West Minerals Province by focusing on creating local jobs within months.
Harmony Gold’s $20.7m Eva copper mine, North West Phosphate’s $5.77m Paradise South phosphate mine and Vecco Group’s $2.33m Vecco critical minerals project will all be given a helping hand to kickstart development through the program’s funding.
The Eva mine, 95km northeast of Mount Isa, will be one of the largest copper mines in Queensland with a 15-year minimum life. It will create about 800 jobs during construction and 450 jobs during operation.
The proposed Paradise South open cut mine, 130km northwest of Mount Isa, has a forecast resource of 2mtpa of ore with at least a 20-year initial life. The mine will generate 74 immediate jobs, with 492 during construction and 245 during operations created by 2026.
The proposed Vecco critical minerals project will mine vanadium and high-purity alumina (HPA), supporting downstream battery production in Townsville. It will create 300 jobs in 2025 and 2026.
Upon completion, these mines are expected to create about 1,000 jobs, following a peak early works and construction work- force of 1,600 jobs.
The State Government has also allocated $20m to its Mount Isa Transition Fund to support local job creation and strengthen the Mount Isa economy in the short-to- medium term.
Changing lives, communities & Australia’s economy
Mount Isa City Council mayor Peta MacRae says the importance of Mount Isa Mines to the local community cannot be overstated.
“Over the decades, it has been instrumental in the development and large-scale implementation of game-changing mining and smelting technologies that have been adopted all over the world,” she said.
“On top of that, it contributes upwards of $2b each year to Australia’s economy.
“It’s an understatement to say Mount Isa has always been a major contributor to the nation’s economy and has punched well above its weight.
“However, our city finds itself at a crossroads, due to the 2025 closure of Glencore’s Mount Isa copper-mining and copper-processing facilities, which will directly affect 1200 jobs and indirectly affect thousands more.”
Mount Isa Diversification & Transformation Strategy
Mayor MacRae says the Mount Isa City Council responded to the announcement of the impending mine closure by publishing a Mount Isa Diversification and Trans- formation Strategy.
“[The Strategy aims to] save and transform Mount Isa’s economy by identifying 60 proposed projects, programs and initiatives worth several billion dollars with the potential to breathe new life into the city over the long-term, through significant investments by the State and Federal governments,” she said.
Of the 60 identified, the 28 immediate priorities are worth $2.7b alone, as reported in the Mount Isa City Council newsletter dated September 12, 2024.
These include:
- a new copper and critical minerals smelter;
- new sulphuric acid production facilities;
- new renewable energy projects;
- new decarbonisation facilities; and
- new transport and infrastructure
Soon-to-be-released Future Ready Economy Roadmap
Mayor MacRae says Council is also working closely with Next Economy – with input from local stakeholders – in the development of a 10-year Future Ready Economy Roadmap.
This Roadmap, set to be released in February 2025, will outline simple and practical steps to diversify and decarbonise the local economy, build resilience, and improve social wellbeing.
“This initiative unites the voices of the community, industry, and government to create a strategy that addresses current challenges as well as harnesses new opportunities,” she said.
“As Mount Isa looks ahead, the Roadmap will serve as a vital guide, ensuring the region remains a vibrant, resilient place to live and work for years to come.
“We are in a unique position to be a leader in the net-zero transition and position the region in a way to attract emerging opportunities such as in critical minerals, innovation and entrepreneurship, and renewable energy development.
“Addressing critical issues like childcare, transport logistics, and healthcare services is essential for maintaining Mount Isa’s appeal as a place to live and work.”
MoU with Green Gravity & Flying Whales
Mayor MacRae says exciting partnerships and developments have been put in place to bring Mount Isa to the forefront of the renewable energy transition.
“Mount Isa City Council has also recently signed Memoranda of Understanding with both start-up Green Gravity – to cooperate in the development of gravitational energy storage in the Mount Isa area, converting disused deep mine shafts into renewable energy – and with the Flying Whales, to establish an Australian-first base for large- capacity helium-filled airships that can be used to transport heavy or large items such as mining equipment or wind turbine blades to remote locations,” she said.
“Together, these projects have the potential to bring hundreds of new jobs to Mount Isa.
“As well as this, the North West Minerals Province is still rich in critical and rare-earth mineral resources – by some estimates, about $650b worth – and is touted as being the key to future decarbonisation efforts, which is a significant Federal Government initiative.
“Therefore, it should never be overlooked or taken for granted.”
About Mount Isa Mines
Mount Isa Mines celebrates 100 years of operations this year as a major a major contributor to the world’s supply of silver, zinc and lead.
From humble beginnings in 1923 as a smattering of miners’ camps, it quickly grew to become Mount Isa’s single-largest employer of more than 3000 people across its local operations.
By 1955, Mount Isa Mines had become the largest mining company in Australia.
Glencore acquired Mount Isa Mines in May 2013 and, after numerous detailed studies to try to extend the life of its copper mining assets, the global company decided to close the operations, citing a lack of viable extension options.