Copper to the World conference.
International experts will fly into Adelaide in June for the 2019 Copper to the World conference, sharing global perspectives on the red metal as the market continues its growth trajectory.
CRU’s Chile-based Erik Heimlich will deliver the keynote address on the outlook for the copper market, joined by international leaders in technology and developing copper resources from Chile, Sweden and Singapore.
| Copper conference | Tuesday 18 June, 8.00 am–6.00 pm | Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide City |
| Masterclass sessions | Monday 17 June, 10.00 am–4.30 pm | Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide City |
| Welcome reception | Monday 17 June, 6.00 pm–8.00 pm | South Australian Museum, Adelaide City |
Andrés Pescon Aaron from Fundacion Chile describing their successful METS open innovation platform during a keynote address at the 2018 conference. (Photo 417756)
The South Australian government has developed Copper to the World with a national and international copper audience in mind as a platform to share global perspectives on the future of copper, discussing trends, opportunities and developments across the copper value chain to address rising demand.
International Copper Association’s John Fennell will head up a session with global copper miners sharing new technologies that paint a bright future for the sector with presentations from Newcrest, Anglo American, BHP and OZ Minerals.
Finding new ways to get copper out of the ground and to process it more effectively remains a priority. Respected leader Terry Burgess will head up an expert panel of thought leaders and decision-makers fleshing out opportunities and challenges to develop a common-use copper processing facility in Australia. Jacqui McGill (independent mining expert), Ray Shaw (CSIRO affiliate with extensive international experience in processing), Ian Dover (Acting Chief Executive METS Ignited) and a representative from GFG Alliance will contribute to this thought-provoking session.
Holly Bridgwater, a transformational leader with a passion for disruption and empowering entrepreneurship to solve mining’s biggest challenges, is set to inspire looking at new frontiers in mining data to make new copper discoveries. Holly heads up Unearthed which has collaborated with OZ Minerals to run a unique crowdsourcing competition that asks geologists and data scientists from across the globe to develop groundbreaking approaches to discover new exploration targets.
Future technologies for exploration and discovery in Australia will be covered by Andrew Bailey, Chief Executive Officer of the MinEx CRC.
New for 2019 – masterclasses
Those looking for in-depth information can take advantage of two masterclasses conveniently held prior to the conference.
For companies looking to deliver regional benefits, a masterclass run by Aboriginal Enterprises in Mining, Energy and Exploration Ltd (AEMEE) will focus on how best to engage with Aboriginal contractors in mining operations.
The Swedes are renowned as leaders in underground mining, and a unique masterclass will focus on European insights and experience in mining innovation.
Vibrant copper sector
Dr Paul Heithersay, Chief Executive for the Department for Energy and Mining, will outline South Australia’s pipeline of copper underwritten by international geoscience leadership in magnetotellurics.
Highlights in the past year include BHP’s stunning copper discovery at Oak Dam West, driving momentum taken up by junior and mid-tier companies to search for minerals in the Gawler Craton region. Aeris Resources, in joint venture with Argonaut Resources, is currently drilling a sizeable anomaly in Lake Torrens.
Meanwhile OZ Minerals’ build of Carrapateena mine has hit peak construction and is on track for first production by the year’s end. In March the company flagged a near-doubling of the Carrapateena mineral resource, now reaching 3.882 million tonnes of copper, 5.753 million ounces of gold and 55 million ounces of silver, further bolstering the miner’s ambitions to unlock the Carrapateena Life of Province Plan. OZ Minerals has also extended its Prominent Hill mine life, with a 50% increase in proven underground total ore reserves.
In February BHP’s proposed expansion of Olympic Dam was declared a major development proposal to ensure the highest level of economic and social assessment possible.
Both OZ Minerals and BHP were recognised in the 2018 Premier’s Awards for bringing excellence to areas such as diversity, working with communities and innovation.
More information, including registrations
– Charles Moore and Grace Taylor, April 2019
