The Harmony Gold Mining Company has approved the final investment decision for the Eva Copper Mine project, which is expected to create up to 1450 jobs.
Eva Copper Mine, located in Queensland’s north-west, will see an estimated 60,000 tonnes of copper extracted each year over its predicted 15-year mine life.
Premier David Crisafulli said the investment will strengthen Queensland’s position as a global resources leader by strengthening the economy and providing more jobs.
“Queensland is open for business and by rebuilding investor confidence we’re delivering new investments to strengthen our regional communities and create local jobs,” he said.
“We’re driving growth in our resource sector that underpins Queensland’s long-term prosperity and the new Eva Copper Mine in Cloncurry Shire and proximate to Mount Isa will deliver exactly that. We’re delivering a fresh start for the State’s resources industry that Queenslanders voted for, while delivering a better lifestyle through a stronger economy.”
The investment from Harmony Gold aims to help deliver on the promise of up to 1000 additional jobs during the construction of the mine and nearly 500 once it is operational.
Harmony Gold chief executive officer Beyers Nel said it is excited to get underway.
“Eva Copper Mine represents an exciting new era in Harmony’s 75-year history of responsible mining,” he said.
“We are proud to invest in Queensland’s world-class north-west minerals province and we look forward to working with all our stakeholders as we move into project execution.”
The project will now transition to project execution with contractors mobilised to site in early 2027 to commence construction, with first production estimated by the second half of 2028, pending approvals.
Treasurer David Janetzki said that this is a significant step in restoring stability and certainty for the resources industry.
“Today’s announcement is a show of confidence in Queensland’s critical minerals sector and our construction of Copperstring from Townsville to Mt Isa, which has also been supported by the $200m north-west Energy Fund recently announced in our Energy Roadmap,” he said.
“Eva Copper Mine will add $17 billion to Queensland’s Gross State Product over its anticipated 15-year mine life securing jobs, industry and ensuring our regional and remote communities thrive. Harmony’s commitment to invest in the Eva Copper Mine is not only a win for the north-west Queensland community but Queensland’s economy.”
Minister for natural resources and mines Dale Last said that Queensland families and the wider resources sector will soon reap the benefits of the project.
“Queensland’s copper industry is one of the pillars of our economy, supporting generations of Queenslanders, from the first discoveries at Mount Isa in the 1920s to today’s world-class operations,” he said.
“Eva Copper Mine locks in the next chapter, with a transformational investment by Harmony that delivers jobs for locals and certainty for Queensland mining families.”