South Australia’s fast growing mineral resources sector will in 2010 see its biggest jump ever with at least five new mines coming into construction or production – a 45% leap in the number of the State’s operating mines. The upbeat prediction was delivered yesterday at the Paydirt 2010 South Australian Resources and Energy Investment Conference by Dr Paul Heithersay, Deputy Chief Executive of South Australia’s Department of Primary Industry and Resources (PIRSA), which oversees the development of the State’s minerals and energy industries. He said that, despite the slowdown attributed to the Global Financial Crisis, mineral production reached A$3.1 billion in SA last year – representing a threefold increase since 2004. “We are proposing that a target of $10 billion in mineral production is achievable by 2020.”
“These figures demonstrate just how resilient this State has become to any negative effects of the global economic climate.” Heithersay said he was confident that South Australia would have 16 operating mines by the end of this year – up from the 11 currently in production. He listed the five new mines-to-be as: Heathgate Resources’ Beverley North (uranium), IronClad Mining’s Wilcherry Hill (iron), IMX Resources’ Cairn Hill (iron), Western Plains Resources’ Peculiar Knob (iron), and Hillgrove Resources’ Kanmantoo (copper). “These five operations all intend to be in production or construction by the end of this year.”
The PIRSA head also paid tribute to two new mines as “2010 standouts”, in the shape of OZ Minerals’ Prominent Hill copper-gold mine near Coober Pedy and Iluka Resources’ Jacinth/Ambrosia heavy minerals mine in far west SA.
Heithersay earmarked three emerging projects as “ones to watch” in the short term: Rex Minerals’ Hillside copper-gold project on the Yorke Peninsula; UraniumSA’s fast growing Mullaquana uranium discovery near Whyalla; and the Carrapateena copper-gold discovery co-owned by RMG Services and Teck Australia.
After the current two-day Conference, PIRSA will be hosting a free technical forum for the 350 delegates on Wednesday May 5, to debate means for “Unlocking South Australia’s Mineral Wealth“. The forum will highlight the latest developments within South Australia’s pioneering Plan for Accelerating Exploration (PACE), as well as presentations on the research and technical projects being conducted by PIRSA’s Minerals and Energy Resources Division and the South Australian Geological Survey.
He said PIRSA “has made great leaps” in recent years in developing a comprehensive database on the geology and mineral potential of the fast emerging minerals provinces of South Australia, including the Gawler Craton – host to the giant Olympic Dam Mine – the uranium-prospective Curnamona Province in the State’s northeast, and the little explored Musgrave Province in northern SA.
As well as the opening of several exciting new education initiatives in SA – including the South Australia Centre for Minerals Exploration Under Cover, and University College of London’s School of Energy & Resources – the SA Government has recently added $10 million to the purse of its pioneering PACE program.
“With all these promising developments, the future of minerals exploration and production in South Australia is in very good shape,” Heithersay concluded. “I am very confident that, based on the latest developments, we will have our 16 mines moving forwards by the end of this year.”