South Australia's Copper Strategy

This consultation has closed.

Have your say on how South Australia can realise the full potential of its vast copper resources to support the global green energy transition.

What's being decided?

We are seeking your feedback on the development of a refreshed South Australian Copper Strategy. We want your input on the key themes, targets, projects and actions which will create the most value to South Australians from the state’s copper resources.

Through the Copper Strategy, we aim to:

  • set South Australia's ambition for copper production, exploration and benefit sharing
  • establish performance success targets for the sector across a range of outcomes including production, investment, and environment, social and governance (ESG) objectives
  • position the state to achieve sustained growth in production from our planned and existing mines
  • integrate the copper strategy into broader state priorities and major projects such as the State Prosperity Project and Northern Water Project
  • identify opportunities to accelerate or support copper exploration and further resource identification; and
  • identify new opportunities to capture additional value from the growth in the copper sector within our state’s borders.

Background

Australia has the world’s third-largest copper reserves after Chile and Peru, accounting for more than a 10% share of global copper reserves. Within that national context, South Australia accounts for more than 69% of Australia’s demonstrated economic reserves of copper and is home to several copper mines including Olympic Dam, which is Australia’s largest.

The South Australian government released its first Copper Strategy in 2016. This strategy sought to triple production of copper to 1 million tonnes per annum by 2030.

Since 2016, South Australia has recorded significant achievements including new discoveries, new mines and new investment. Supported by the previous strategies, production has increased from 250,000 tonnes in 2014–15 to over 320,000 tonnes in 2023–24, however, there is still further to go to realise the previous strategy’s ambition of one million tonnes of copper production per year.

Global demand for copper is expected to double over the next 30 years. Copper demand is rising because of its importance to the green energy transition that can help realise the goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. South Australia needs a copper strategy that can support this level of growth, identify new opportunities for the future, and realise the full potential of benefits from this resource for all South Australians.


Get involved

Find out more:

The consultation paper explores the key themes of the copper strategy and highlights the areas of discussion we are looking for feedback on.

Have your say by:

Submissions close 11.59pm, Thursday 12 December.

What are the next steps?

All submissions will be considered as part of the development of the refreshed South Australian Copper Strategy. The Strategy will be released in 2025.

Have your say on how South Australia can realise the full potential of its vast copper resources to support the global green energy transition.

What's being decided?

We are seeking your feedback on the development of a refreshed South Australian Copper Strategy. We want your input on the key themes, targets, projects and actions which will create the most value to South Australians from the state’s copper resources.

Through the Copper Strategy, we aim to:

  • set South Australia's ambition for copper production, exploration and benefit sharing
  • establish performance success targets for the sector across a range of outcomes including production, investment, and environment, social and governance (ESG) objectives
  • position the state to achieve sustained growth in production from our planned and existing mines
  • integrate the copper strategy into broader state priorities and major projects such as the State Prosperity Project and Northern Water Project
  • identify opportunities to accelerate or support copper exploration and further resource identification; and
  • identify new opportunities to capture additional value from the growth in the copper sector within our state’s borders.

Background

Australia has the world’s third-largest copper reserves after Chile and Peru, accounting for more than a 10% share of global copper reserves. Within that national context, South Australia accounts for more than 69% of Australia’s demonstrated economic reserves of copper and is home to several copper mines including Olympic Dam, which is Australia’s largest.

The South Australian government released its first Copper Strategy in 2016. This strategy sought to triple production of copper to 1 million tonnes per annum by 2030.

Since 2016, South Australia has recorded significant achievements including new discoveries, new mines and new investment. Supported by the previous strategies, production has increased from 250,000 tonnes in 2014–15 to over 320,000 tonnes in 2023–24, however, there is still further to go to realise the previous strategy’s ambition of one million tonnes of copper production per year.

Global demand for copper is expected to double over the next 30 years. Copper demand is rising because of its importance to the green energy transition that can help realise the goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. South Australia needs a copper strategy that can support this level of growth, identify new opportunities for the future, and realise the full potential of benefits from this resource for all South Australians.


Get involved

Find out more:

The consultation paper explores the key themes of the copper strategy and highlights the areas of discussion we are looking for feedback on.

Have your say by:

Submissions close 11.59pm, Thursday 12 December.

What are the next steps?

All submissions will be considered as part of the development of the refreshed South Australian Copper Strategy. The Strategy will be released in 2025.

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    We want to hear from you regarding South Australia's Copper Strategy refresh

    This consultation has closed.