In a major boost for Australia’s critical mineral supply chain, the NSW Government has approved $693 million into the Copi Mineral Sands Project.
Located in the state’s far southwest, roughly 180km south-west of Broken Hill, the project is expected to process nearly 27 million tonnes of material and produce up to 400,000 tonnes a year of critical ore for 18 years.
The investment comes amid efforts made by the Federal Government to strengthen its relationships with countries abroad to secure more critical minerals, with recent deals being made with Japan, the United States, and China.
Minister for planning and public spaces Paul Scully said the project has the potential to deliver the securement of the critical minerals required to help power clean energy the country needs.
“Copi is a great example of the continued growth in NSW critical minerals sector, which is helping to create a sustainable future for NSW, Australia and the world,” Scully said.
“The project will also deliver upgrades to local roads to make sure there is adequate infrastructure to support the increased activity in the region.”
The Copi project plans to deliver titanium-bearing minerals such as ilmenite, rutile, zircon, as well as rare earth concentrates like monazite, which is vital for clean energy technologies like electric vehicles, defence telecommunications, and medical devices. It’s also expected to create 480 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing jobs, with around half of the project’s workforce expected to come from surrounding communities.
Minister for natural resources Courtney Houssos said the state is home to some of the “world’s most significant critical mineral deposits”, and the need to see out its potential is integral for the industry to grow.
“With 21 of the 31 nationally identified critical minerals, NSW is uniquely positioned to be a globally significant supplier,” she said.
“This project will contribute up to 27 million tonnes of critical minerals and rare earth ore every year for almost two decades, which is a significant stride forward in establishing secure supply chains.”
The Copi project is the second critical minerals scheme to be approved by the NSW Government in the last four months, building on the approval of the Aeris Resources’ Constellation Project which will provide a new source of high‑quality copper ore.
The State Government claimed it will continue to partner within industry to promote critical minerals investment and production within the state, amid its 2024 Critical Minerals and high-tech Metals Strategy.
“The NSW Government’s strategy is backing projects which are providing more jobs and strengthening our position in the global market,” Houssos said.
“Projects like Copi send a clear signal that NSW is a stable and attractive destination for critical minerals exploration and production.”
