South Australia’s Mineral Resources Minister Tom Koutsantonis has said the state is poised to take its place among the titans of world mining.
The minister said five world-class discoveries had been made in South Australia in the past decade, including the huge increase in the size of the uranium and copper deposit at Olympic Dam in the state’s north.
“South Australia is poised to take its place among the titans of mining, not just in Australia but in the world,” Mr Koutsantonis told a mining industry conference.
“I often say that while with Olympic Dam we have tracked down an elephant, we are still in the hunt for the rest of the herd.
“That requires explorers large and small to take a risk in joining the hunt,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
The minister said it was also important for South Australia to carefully manage the transition to a global mining giant to ensure all shared the rewards.
“These are exciting times, but they are also challenging times for our state,” he said.
“We need to manage our transition into a global mining giant in a way that benefits all South Australians.
“There is a direct link between the wealth generated by our mines and the shops and cafes in our cities.
“There also needs to be a direct link between those mines and our advanced manufacturers, schools and universities.”
Mr Koutsantonis used the conference to also announce the approval of mineral sands mining at Mindarie in the state’s Murray Mallee region.
Murray Zircon will take over the mine, which has not operated since Australian Zircon went into voluntary administration in 2009.
