POWER ‘KEY’ FOR THE NORTH WEST

KENNEDY MP Bob Katter says competitively priced power from the proposed Copperstring transmission line will help the North West’s true potential be realised.

The project, which will connect Mount Isa and Cloncurry to the National Electricity Market, has been heralded as the key to unlocking new projects in the North West Minerals Province.

Mr Katter recently took a tour of the Anthill Mine, which broke ground in November 2021 and has high-grade copper oxide deposits.

The ore from the mine is transported by road trains to Austral Resources’ Mt Kelly processing facility where it is treated by heap leach and solvent extraction.

The finished product – LME Grade A copper cathode plates – is exported through Townsville’s Port.

Austral Resources, which operates the mine, has plans to expand its operation and is supportive of Copperstring.

Chief operating officer Shane O’connell said that the company had $160m worth of processing infrastructure at Mt Kelly, and would soon ramp up to 1000 tonnes per month.

“We certainly intend to find more copper to continue operations well into the future,” he said.

“Anthill Mine certainly provides us with that opportunity. “Our operations are directly and indirectly employing about 200 people. Anthill has a four-year mine life, producing some excellent copper, and we are looking at extensions on it to the west and south, as well as extensions to mineralisation at Lady Annie.

“We’ve got $10m set aside for exploration over the next 12 months so hopefully we can extend the mine life of Anthill and Austral Resources in general.”

Mr Katter said governments should do more to provide enabling infrastructure for mining ventures.

“This is the first period of my life when government just isn’t delivering the imperative infrastructure,” Mr Katter said.

“Kevin Rudd touched on the idea of extending the National Electricity Grid when he was PM. A decade later and we are still waiting. Whoever wins government on May 21 must act on Copperstring immediately.”

The Coalition and the state Labor government have both provided cash for Copperstring, however the project still needs more than $1bn.

In September last year, the Queensland Electricity Regulator approved an Electricity Transmission Authority for the project.