Mount Isa Mines copper mining closure a 'bitter pill'

On October 18, Glencore announced it will cease copper mining operations in 2025 after 60 years of mining in Mount Isa,

Over the next two years, operations will transition to focus on zinc assets and copper smelting and refining assets in Queensland.

The underground copper operations and concentrator will close in the second half of 2025, as will Lady Loretta mine.

Cr Slade said this was not the end of mining for the region.

"We knew this day would come but it's still a bitter pill. But Mount Isa is tough, and it's resilient. And this isn't the end of mining - it's barely even the beginning," she said.

"We're in the middle of $500 billion worth of minerals, and they are minerals the whole world wants. I'll be working to make sure Mount Isa Mines make locals their absolute number one priority in who gets looked after first. I'll be working with the government to make sure Mount Isa remains a hub for that growing industry."

Traeger MP Robbie Katter said the impact of this decision to the North West region was unfathomable.

"Glencore has been telling us globally the future of copper is bright, investing heavily in African and South American copper mines, but have been progressively retreating from their Australian interests.

"The reality is no one wants Glencore here in the North West - we want an owner who is less interested in playing games and more interested in mining the $750 billion worth of untapped critical minerals that exist in the region.

"If they have no appetite for risk or long-term planning and development, it is time they move aside and allow an operator into the North West Minerals Province who is."

Shadow Minister for Resources and for Northern Australia Senator Susan McDonald has called for government commitment to strengthen the economic future of the North West.

"Mount Isa plays a vital role as a hub for North West Queensland commerce, healthcare and schooling and I am deeply concerned about the effect this announcement will have on Mount Isa Mines' workers and the town's business owners," Senator McDonald said.

"Mount Isa Mines' 60-year operation is a testament to the importance of the North West Minerals province, and operations in and around Mount Isa have contributed billions of dollars back to the local community."

Senator McDonald said while no single mine could last forever, the region had been identified as having an abundance of critical minerals and rare earths yet to be developed.

"North West Queensland's rich potential should not be squandered or ignored, and the Labor Government needs to do more to encourage a pipeline of mining ventures to develop or expand with confidence in order to secure the future of our regional communities," she said.

"It is crucial that state and federal governments remove unnecessary red tape slowing down the approval of the next generation of mines in order to continue to provide opportunity and a prosperous future for the North West of Queensland.

"The government needs to work to ensure Mount Isa remains a thriving regional town for the sake of local workers, businesses, agriculture, mining and indigenous communities who rely on this important centre in Northern Australia for supplies, schooling, healthcare, air travel and employment."

Townsville Enterprise chief executive officer Claudia Brumme-Smith said while it was end of life for underground copper mining at Mount Isa, "we now have two years to fast track and unlock critical minerals and renewables in the region".

"There is upwards of $740bn of known and untapped critical minerals across the North West and this region is also recognised to have access to the nations best wind and solar resources," Ms Brumme-Smith said.

"The priority from all levels of government and industry needs to be retaining these skilled workers in the North West and safeguarding the communities in which they live and work."

"We urge all levels of government to remove any obstacles and bureaucratic processes to fast track getting new mines off the ground now and into operation. Our message is clear - let the North West be open for business and work proactively with proponents.

"To ensure the North West remains open for business and remains globally competitive we need water security, efficient transport connections from Pit to Port and retain the highly skilled workforce in our region."

The Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the announcement highlighted the need for new resources investment in Queensland to develop new projects as major mines like this reach their end of life.

"The future success of the resources sector cannot be taken for granted by governments and we need policies that encourage investment in new Queensland resources projects as more mines reach their end of production in coming years," Mr Macfarlane said.

"The Queensland government needs to start listening to the many warnings about the threat to future investment as a result of its snap decision to impose the world's highest coal royalty tax rates.

"In the current global economic climate, the state government should be doing all it can to attract investment in new resources projects in Queensland.

"It's time the Queensland government started encouraging resources investment, which will support exploration and investment in new projects, rather than discouraging it with the world's highest royalty taxes and endless approval processes.

"Queensland's North West Minerals Province offers enormous potential for the resources sector with abundant reserves of many the critical minerals the world needs to develop the new technologies for a decarbonised future.

"That potential can only be fully reached with the backing of investors providing the billions of dollars to develop the projects that will provide future jobs and economic benefits for Queensland."

Federal Member for Kennedy KAP Bob Katter is calling on governments to intervene immediately in the closure of Glencore's Mount Isa Mines copper operation - to preserve the best interests of the North Western city and Australia's critical reliance on the essential metal.

Mr Katter said it was time to immediately move forward with a "brutal" and "forceful" action plan.

He said governments needed to show some "backbone" and move Glencore on immediately, and not allow it to slowly drain the town and North West region over the next two years.

"They've had one foot out the door for years, they're not interested in hanging around and would prefer to be mining copper in the Congo, so get the hell out," he said.

"It's about time a government in Australia grew a back bone and threw out these people that are raping our resources for their own wealth and treating us like pawns.

"The government has explain what it is going to do now about maintaining its sovereign capability to produce copper. And make sure the processing plant is sold by law to an Australian company that will remain an Australian asset."