TEL’s docu-series compares potential copper industry collapse with QNI closure

Glencore will decide within weeks whether to close Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville refinery, as the battle continues to avoid another QNI debacle. See the latest doco episode.

Swiss mining giant Glencore has confirmed that a decision would be made within weeks whether to close the doors on its Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville copper refinery, after previously stating it would decide by the end of the year.

It comes as the company prepares to close its Mount Isa Mines underground copper operation in July, and amid dire warnings about the future of NQ’s key pieces of copper infrastructure, with industry figures estimating 17,000 jobs are at risk across North Queensland.

Glencore’s Australian head of corporate affairs Cass McCarthy told the Townsville Bulletin that the situation was bigger than Glencore, going to the heart of state and federal government critical minerals policies, saying that smelters and refineries across Australia were at breaking point due to China’s influence on the copper market.

“We continue to proactively engage with the government in the hopes a regional solution for the Mount Isa smelter and Townsville refinery can be found over the next month or so,” Ms McCarthy said.

Queensland’s Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Manufacturing Dale Last was asked whether a tax payer funded bailout would be forthcoming.

Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith tours a copper processing facility. Picture: Supplied.

“This is about working with Glencore about how we can come up with a model that meets the needs of everyone that secures the future of Mount Isa without necessarily writing out a blank cheque,” Mr Last said.

Maintaining pressure on governments to intervene with its Keep Our Copper campaign, Townsville Enterprise has released the third episode in its docu-series, “Townsville's Refinery Reckoning – Will we take our copper to the world?”.

The episode evoked memories of the devastating impact on the Townsville community when the Queensland Nickle Refinery closed in 2016, warning that a similar situation could arise if the Mount Isa Copper Smelter closed – setting off a domino effect leading to the Townsville refinery being mothballed.

Copper is a critical component to many everyday items. Picture: Supplied.

Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith says the Townsville Copper Refinery has been an anchor of the local economy and a symbol of innovation for more than six decades.

“The interconnectedness of the Mount Isa Copper Smelter and the Townsville Refinery cannot be denied – put simply, there is no refinery without a smelter and vice versa,” Ms Brumme-Smith said.

What's at stake for NQ's copper supply chain. Picture: TEL.

“This facility not only reflects a significant contribution to our local economy, but it is also an example of our regional ingenuity – setting the benchmark for copper refining globally.”

She said their message was clear, “giving up on copper means giving up on the future”.

For more information, visit: www.keepourcopper.com.au.

Inside Townsville’s copper refinery. Picture: Supplied.

Keep our Copper docuseries

• Episode 1: Why the Smelter Matters: The cornerstone of Australia’s copper supply chain

• Episode 2: Unearthed Potential: Mining the Demand Boom

• Episode 3: Townsville’s Refinery Reckoning: will we take our copper to the world?

• Episode 4: From Surviving to Thriving: the game changers to fuel our region’s copper revival

• Episode 5: The Chain Reaction: Why Farmers are fearing the Smelter closure

Originally published as TEL’s docu-series compares potential copper industry collapse with QNI closure