South Australia is uniquely placed to be a catalyst for the world's energy transformation – with abundant copper resources, international leadership in renewable energy and vibrant partnerships.
South Australia's copper resources and production
South Australia is the number 1 destination for copper in the nation.
- South Australia hosts 66% of Australia's known copper resources, with 103 Mt of contained copper in the state.
- Exploration is on the rise with investment surging past $211m p.a.
- Copper is South Australia’s top export item, reaching $5.3 billion in 2025-26.
Our global-scale output - our future
- In 2025, South Australian miners produced 328,323 tonnes of copper, enough to power 3.4 million electric vehicles or 70,000 wind turbines
- Enterprising projects across the copper supply chain with copper producers and partners transforming operations.
- A low emissions electricity system – 75% wind and solar, firmed by battery and gas – enabling mining operators to harness clean energy to their competitive advantage
- A pioneering scientific base, and hub to be a global centre in next-generation mining
- Fast-growing renewable energy generation and storage sector to expand supply options
- Targeting 100% net renewable electricity generation by 2027
- Export pathways and supporting infrastructure
World-class data
South Australia is the premier exploration destination, providing extensive precompetitive data, advanced geoscience tools and the world-class Drill Core Library.
- The South Australia Drill Core Library hosts geological samples available as drill core, cuttings, rock samples and thin sections. New drill core additions include material from major IOCG deposits such as Oak Dam, Olympic Dam Deeps, Hillside and Arcoona.
- The current SARIG Core Intelligence project transforming physical resources into a digital intelligence library, making drill core and associated datasets accessible anytime and from anywhere in the world.
- South Australian Geology 2nd edition will soon be released – an interactive, digital-first geological mapping platform across the eastern Gawler Craton.
Emerging opportunities
The South Australian government is backing copper expansion.
- New acreage releases in the prospective Northern Gawler Craton
- Common-use infrastructure corridors to open new regions to investment
- Northern Water Project to secure sustainable water supply for industry
- Upper Spencer Gulf Workforce Plan which includes the Spencer Gulf Jobs and Skills Hub to provide career opportunities for traditional and emerging industries
- Industry Capability Network driving local content and partnerships
- Innovation hubs in AI, advanced manufacturing, and energy technology
South Australia is the future of copper – shaping the global copper supply chain and powering the world's energy transformation.
PACE Minerals is South Australia’s co-investment engine for mineral discovery, backed by a $12.4 million investment over four years from 2026. PACE is co-funding drilling, geophysics, geochemical programs and dynamic research partnerships.
