$200m Jervois copper mine could become global supplier, lead to expansion of Darwin-Adelaide railway
THE green light given to the Territory’s $200m Jervois copper mine by the NT government could pave the way for an expansion of the Darwin-Adelaide railway.
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THE green light given to the Territory’s $200m Jervois copper mine by the NT government could pave the way for an expansion of the Darwin-Adelaide railway.
KGL Resources executive chairman Denis Wood said the Jervois base metal project, 380km northeast of Alice Springs, was exceptionally well placed to enter the world copper market as a supplier.
“An electric car uses four times as much copper as a conventional car,” Mr Wood said.
“There are very few mines ready to go and the world is facing a copper shortage in the future.
“This will hit the production of electric cars, lithium batteries and so on.
“Jervois has a mine life forecast of close to eight years, but I believe there is a lot more copper on this site to extend the mine life beyond that.”
Mr Wood said about 350 jobs would be created and the preference was to hire a Territory workforce.
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“Discussions have begun on project financing and the marketing of the mine’s concentrate,” Mr Wood said.
“China, Europe and South-East Asia are all potential markets.”
Mr Wood said the project would leap towards a final investment decision if a railway siding where the Plenty Highway intersected The Ghan rail line was on the table.
Mr Wood expects 11 B-triple trucks a day on the road to Alice in daylight hours but said a railway siding would avoid that.
“We have to truck to Alice to get it to the rail and so will other mines such as Arafura Resources’ Nolans rare earths project and Thor’s Molyhil project,” Mr Wood said.
“I had discussions with the former federal minister for Northern Australia, Matt Canavan, with a view that North Australia Investment Facility (NAIF) funding would be well used on building a railway siding on the Plenty Highway-Ghan railway crossing.
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“A common user rail siding would be a great source of encouragement to investors for all three of these significant Territory projects.
“It takes trucks off the road, cuts time and costs.
“It is a chance for NAIF to provide serious help to three important NT mine projects.”
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