A ministerial visit to Mount Isa has given the local council a shot of confidence that State and Federal governments are working together on the future of the city’s copper smelter and are listening to regional advocacy.
Local Mayor Peta MacRae joined Federal Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres and Queensland Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last for a tour of Glencore’s Mount Isa operations last week.
The visit followed high-level government talks with Glencore, which has been lobbying for support as it aims to reach a final decision by the end of 2025 on the future of its Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville refinery.
Cr MacRae said the visit and confirmation of those discussions gave the council confidence that the two levels of government were working together.
The visit provided an opportunity for council to promote its regional solution as Glencore winds down underground copper mining operations in Mount Isa, and familiarise Senator Ayres with the city.
A combination of unprecedented smelting market conditions, a shortage of copper concentrates and high costs like energy, gas and labour is making the Mount Isa copper smelter unviable, according to Glencore.
“Unfortunately, it’s no longer a level playing field with our competitors in China heavily subsidised by government, which means they produce copper metal at much lower cost,” chief operating officer for Glencore’s Australian metals business Troy Wilson said.
“Although the Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville refinery are currently loss making, we are continuing to look for a regional solution with both Federal and Queensland Governments to keep these strategic assets open.”
Glencore said it had reiterated its commitment to Mount Isa and Townsville to the visiting Ministers and outlined plans for continued investment in the George Fisher Mine and development of the Black Star Open Cut (BSOC) project.
Townsville Enterprise chief executive officer Claudia Brumme-Smith is calling for industry and government to come together to keep copper processing capabilities in North Queensland.
“It’s been nearly a decade since the closure of the Queensland Nickel Refinery sent shockwaves through this region,” she said.
“We still remember the fallout. We still feel the loss. But the closure of the copper smelter and refinery would have an even greater impact—economically, socially and strategically.”