North Queensland copper industry in need of support as Mining and Critical Minerals Forum kicks off
North Queensland’s copper industry is teetering on the brink of crisis, with 17,000 jobs hanging in the balance without swift government intervention. Now, we’re fighting to make it happen.
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North Queensland’s copper industry is teetering on the brink of crisis, with 17,000 jobs hanging in the balance without swift government intervention.
Industry insiders say the impact of a refusal by the Federal and State Governments to help save Glencore’s smelter in Mount Isa and the refinery in Townsville would not only cruel the state’s economy, but would be a major hit to national security.
Swiss mining giant Glencore revealed earlier this month that Mount Isa’s copper smelter and Townsville’s refinery were at risk of closure by the end of the year.
It comes as the company prepares to stop mining the Mount Isa Mines underground copper operation in July.
The company’s CEO Gary Nagle made a mercy dash to Queensland see Premier David Crisafulli in a tenacious bid to stave off closure.
The Townsville Bulletin understands Mr Nagle asked for an eye watering $2 billion support package but was open to discussing any possible solutions.
Speaking in Townsville yesterday Mr Crisafulli said he could not over state how important it was that the smelter and refineries stayed open and confirmed he had several meetings with Glencore “at the highest level and expressed how much we want to see them invest in a region that’s been good to them”.
“The future of that smelter is so huge for everything that relies on it,” he said.
“So there’s a number of approvals and a number of projects that I’m pretty confident are going to get over the line the next two to three years.
”We have to find a way to make sure that there’s confidence for people to invest in the north and north west. It honestly is a tightrope.
“It’s a tightrope, and if one domino falls, they all fall. So I want to give confidence to all of them to invest.”
The Townsville Bulletin today launches its campaign S.O.S. – Save our Smelter and Refinery – to coincide with the 2025 Townsville Enterprise Mining and Critical Minerals Forum where the future of the smelter and refinery will be front and centre.
The forum will bring together politicians, industry and business leaders to address growing global competition and concerns over Australia’s national security and sovereign manufacturing capabilities.
Copper, increasingly seen as the “new oil” in the global push towards decarbonisation, will be central to the discussions.
A spokesman for Glencore the company wanted to keep the smelter and refinery open.
“(We) are working with all levels of government to weather the challenges of uncertain global markets and high costs in Australia, particularly gas and energy,” he said.
“We have always shown a strong commitment to our workforce.”
Glencore’s annual direct economic contribution to the state Government was around $10 billion, the spokesman said.
Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith said Australia needed to recognise that the future of copper in the North was a strategic national priority.
“The North West Minerals Province is a national asset,” Ms Brumme-Smith stated.
“At stake is a regional ecosystem responsible for more than 17,000 jobs and contributing 16 per cent to North West Queensland’s Gross Regional Product,” she said.
“The future of Mount Isa’s copper smelter, Townsville’s copper refinery, and a broader corridor of interconnected mining and processing operations is on the line.”
Ms Brumme-Smith warned that any loss of copper-producing capacity would have nationwide impacts.
“Copper is the new oil, and if we miss the opportunity to safeguard our own critical minerals, we risk losing our ability to support sovereign manufacturing and decarbonise ‘made in Australia’,” she said.
Copper is vital for the production of electric vehicles, wind turbines, energy storage, and solar panels.
“Copper demand is predicted to double in coming decades, but we can’t compete on the status quo.
“We need enabling infrastructure like CopperString, processing facilities, and affordable access to road, rail, and port services to unlock our potential.
With the right policy and investment settings, North Queensland could position Australia as a global leader in critical minerals production, not just extraction, Ms Brumme-Smith said.
But without decisive action, local leaders say there is a risk of dismantling the entire copper supply chain.
Traeger MP and Katter Australia Party leader Robbie Katter said although he was hopeful a satisfactory resolution would be found, he was not confident.
“Certainly there’s strong been strong interest from the Premier directly and strong concern, but we’re still going to have to get something across the line here,” he said.
“People still talk about the impact of Queensland Nickel from 700 to 800 jobs.
“You’re looking at 1000s of direct jobs here, and most of those are now Townsville jobs.
“I wish they weren’t I wish there weren’t as much FIFO, those planes are full now.
“They’re Townsville jobs predominantly, and they’re high paying jobs that pump a lot of money into the economy in North Queensland. And if, if they’re gone, that’s a really big problem for business in towns, just as much as it is in Mount Isa.”
Mount Isa City Council Mayor Peta McRae highlighted the importance of the mining and manufacturing sectors to her region’s future.
“Copper is the key to securing our future,” she said.
“We need governments to prioritise the North West corridor as a hub for mining that attracts international and domestic operators.”
The demand for copper is expected to double in the coming decades, meaning infrastructure development such as CopperString, processing facilities, and affordable access to transport services are vital.
The forum will call for urgent government action to ensure North Queensland can be competitive in the global market.
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