Published: September 1, 2020 |

[Click image to enlarge]

Ribbon cutting at the Carrapateena official opening.
[Click image to enlarge]

From idea to operation in five years, the outback’s Carrapateena Mine is well above the national benchmark for realizing a resources’ dream.

This is according to OZ Minerals Chief Executive Andrew Cole.

The mine’s achievement was celebrated on Friday at a ribbon-cutting to mark the opening of the $1 billion development, 160km north of Port Augusta.

“To take an idea through all of the processes to be able to stand here and say we are actually operating a new mine in South Australia within five years is fantastic,” said OZ Minerals Chief Executive Andrew Cole.

“It’s actually much much faster than the average in Australia which is 20 years and it’s certainly much faster than the international average, which is much longer than that again. It’s just the start though and we have got some really interesting things ahead,” added Cole.

The company entered a ramp-up phase at the mine after delivering the first saleable concentrate in December last year.

Carrapateena General Manager Myles Johnston said it was unique career milestone for many involved.

“When we made first con we were here on our own making sure we delivered, but today to celebrate all of that and the ramp-up of the mine is really satisfying,” said Carrapateena General Manager Myles Johnston.

“It may only happen once or twice in your whole career so to be apart of it is quite unique and quite extraordinary,” added Johnston.

Production at Carrapateena jumped from 2495 tonnes in the first quarter of this year to 7170 tonnes in the June quarter.

Financial results reported earlier this month indicate the site would achieve a mining rate of 4.25 million tonnes yearly by the end of 2020.

Cole said Carrapateena will contribute to the local, state and national economy for decades to come.

“We are already working on a step after that to take it to 12 million tonnes per year. There’s quite a few plans in the making to get this place here even bigger again from where it is today,” said Cole.

OZ Minerals expects to mine the site for at least 20 years, but the company is already thinking ahead with plans to expand the sub-level cave into a series of potential block caves.

The plans, currently in feasibility study stages, could see the life of the mine increased to 60 years with double its capacity.

Premier Steven Marshall joined Energy and Mining Minister and Stuart MP Dan van Holst Pellekaan to cut the ribbon.

“This is a really important resource that we have here in South Australia, but it’s got national and international significance because obviously copper is a resource the whole world is hungry for,” said Premier Steven Marshall.

“The wonderful thing about this mine is that it creates employment, but it also creates royalties ... and we need those royalties because they get ploughed back into our state to create schools, hospitals and roads and all the services that South Australians rely on,” added Premier Marshall.

“It’s an incredibly important sector and it’s a proud day for our state to be here at the opening of the Carrapateena mine,” said Premier Marshall.

Source: The Transcontinental

To stop by OZ Minerals’ website, CLICK HERE

Be in-the-know when you’re on-the-go!