The minerals industry value-chain represents the stages and processes that a minerals project will go through to produce mineral products. Each stage represents a value-add on the previous and there are opportunities to invest at each of the major stages:
| Stage/Process | Investment opportunities |
|---|---|
| Geoscience | Research and development (R&D) |
| Exploration | Grass roots exploration, joint venture partner other agreements, R&D, Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) |
| Developing projects | Partnership agreements, early offtake agreements for product, R&D, METS |
| Mining | Mergers, acquisitions, product purchase and sale, R&D productivity, METS |
|
Processing (ore purchase and product upgrade for premium sales value) | R&D productivity and saleability, METS |
In South Australia the minerals industry value-chain is supported by the ongoing framework of the South Australian Government providing:
- a knowledge base of the state’s mineral potential and administration of trusted regulation
- several strategic initiatives to assist processes at critical stages of the value chain expediting best quality outcomes and benefits to industry proponents and South Australians.
Mineral exploration
Opportunities for investment include grass roots exploration as a tenement holder and/or operator or joint venture partner.
Companies holding exploration licences with high potential but limited funding may be seeking investment partners to progress projects.
Exploration companies are able to hold more than one exploration licence (EL) in different parts of the state and can be in various stages of exploration at the same time (e.g. an exploration company may be conducting low impact activities on one EL and drilling on another).
At each stage of the exploration process exploration companies will provide progress reports to their boards and shareholders. They may also seek to secure additional funding from the financial market to conduct further exploration activities.
There is no specific timeline for each stage of the exploration cycle. If all steps are positive, the market is positive and shareholders are continuing to invest, it is possible a prospective find may reach the point of mining within six or seven years from discovery. However, the time from initial discovery to a potential mine depends on numerous factors, making it very difficult to determine when, or if, mining may begin.
The mineral exploration cycle in South Australia
Mineral projects
There are opportunities for investors to work with companies on more advanced mineral exploration projects by forming joint venture partnerships or product offtake agreements and contracts.
Mines and developing projects
Mines and developing projects generally have already established offtake agreements and term contracts to supply products. However, supply and service companies are able to find opportunities particularly with companies that have approval to mine but are still establishing finances and their supply chain.
Processing
Opportunities exist to work with significant on and off-site mineral refineries that import local and interstate ore and scrap metal for processing.
Service and supply
There are also opportunities for investment in research and development (R&D) and in service and supply chain (METS) industries in South Australia.
Related information
South Australia mineral projects (PDF)
South Australia mines and developing projects (PDF)
South Australia exploration models (PDF)
More information
Email: DEM.customerservices@sa.gov.au
Phone: +61 8 8463 3000
