Our world is changing and South Australia’s major commodity – copper – is key to delivering global solutions. South Australia’s Copper Strategy provides a focus for creating more value from this growing opportunity. Our state is open for investment and a stable, secure and green destination of choice across the copper value chain.
Vision
Create shared value from our copper resources while powering the world's clean energy and technology transformation.
Objective
Achieve sustainable production of 1 million tonnes of copper each year by 2030.
Our strategic themes
Explore
Drive acceleration of exploration and technologies that will grow copper discoveries for the future.
South Australia has potential for more globally significant copper discoveries and exploration is the key to growing our copper industry.
The South Australian Government is committed to increasing the state’s share of global copper production, through discovery and development of world-class copper deposits.
Together with industry and other partners we are developing new ways to discover copper, pushing the boundaries of conventional exploration by applying an array of new technology and techniques to accelerate discovery.
Build on our advantages
- 67% Australia’s copper resources
- World class iron oxide – copper-gold mines/deposits in the Gawler Craton
- Discoveries and new models: sedimentary copper, nickel-copper sulfides, ultramafic and porphyry hosted
- Advanced projects in the Curnamona Province and Adelaide Rift Complex
- SARIG open access geoscience data assets
- Policy changes enabling greater co-investment
- Machine learning and digital transformation partnerships
- Frontier exploration opportunities
- MinEx CRC and national Exploring for the Future partnerships
- Committed to support exploration through the Accelerated Discovery Initiatives funding program
Innovate
Expand a highly connected ecosystem that activates solutions to multiply value across the copper chain.
In South Australia, explorers and miners embrace an evolving mindset, boosted by world-class university researchers, innovators and businesses to maximise benefits across the copper value chain.
The State’s 10-year EXCITE strategy will place South Australia in the top quartile of OECD nations by 2030 for research and innovation. We are co-investing to bring leaders together, connect businesses, recruit innovators and set up technology hubs and research centres.
Build on our advantages
- Industry, businesses and universities developing copper value-chain solutions
- Vibrant R&D and innovation ecosystem
- Training centres to grow future workforce
- Cost-competitive clean energy and place to do business
- Global leader in renewable energy to green the supply chain
- Transfer of technology across industry sector
- Local manufacturing building clean energy solutions
- Value-add to copper output from mines and raw materials
Collaborate
Grow partnerships that bring together diverse minds from around the globe to advance a smart copper future.
South Australia is a hub for partnerships that magnify creative solutions and grow value from copper sector challenges.
South Australia is rich in test-beds, industrial centres and R&D including Lot Fourteen, the Tonsley Innovation District, world leading universities, and the Upper Spencer Gulf regional industrial areas.
Build on our advantages
- Physical spaces for collaboration
- Copper to the World conference
- National and international partnerships
- New crowd sourcing opportunities
- Research and development partnerships
- Grow virtual spaces and online collaboration
- Partnering on state and federally funded initiatives
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