In a major boost for Australia’s critical mineral supply chain and the energy transition, the Minns Labor Government has approved the $693 million Copi Mineral Sands Project in the State’s Far South West.
Located around 180km south-west of Broken Hill the project is expected to process up to 27 million tonnes of material and produce up to 400, 000 tonnes a year of critical mineral ore for 18 years. Securing the supply of rare earth elements in high demand for the global clean energy transition.
The project will deliver important titanium-bearing minerals including ilmenite, rutile, zircon and rare earth concentrates, such as monazite which are vital for clean energy technologies including electric vehicles and wind turbines, as well defence, telecommunications and medical device industries.
This project further cements NSW as a leading destination for critical minerals investment.
The approval comes as Australia strengthens international partnerships on critical minerals, including a recent agreement with the United States, to support the development of secure and resilient rare earth supply chains.
The Copi Mineral Sands project is expected to create 480 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing jobs, with around half of the project’s workforce is expected to come from surrounding communities, marking a huge boost to employment in the remote region.
The approval includes associated infrastructure for the project including upgrades to local roads for mine product transportation to the South Australian border and use of the existing rail facility in Broken Hill.
The project also requires Commonwealth Government approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
This is the second critical minerals project to be approved by the Minns Labor Government in four months, building on the approval of the Aeris Resources’ Constellation Project which will provide a new source of high‑quality copper ore.
As part of the 2024 Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Strategy, the Minns Labor Government continues to partner with industry to promote critical minerals investment and production in NSW, including through the Australia-first $250 million royalty deferral, pre-competitive data, and matching grants to support exploration.
Learn more about the Copi Sands project at the NSW Planning Portal, and the NSW Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Strategy website.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully said:
“This project will help secure the supply of critical minerals to help power the clean energy, telecommunications and medical device technologies while supporting hundreds of jobs in NSW’s Far West.
“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.
“The project will also deliver upgrades to local roads to make sure there is adequate infrastructure to support the increased activity in the region.”
Minister for Natural Resources, Courtney Houssos said:
“NSW is home to some of the world’s most significant critical mineral deposits, and we are focused on turning that potential into long-term investment and industry growth.
“With 21 of the 31 nationally identified critical minerals, NSW is uniquely positioned to be a globally significant supplier.
“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 Minns Labor Government’s Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Strategy is backing projects which are providing more jobs and strengthening our position in the global market
“Projects like Copi send a clear signal that NSW is a stable and attractive destination for critical minerals exploration and production.”
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