The Carrapateena Copper Project is a major copper-gold mining operation developed by OZ Minerals in the Gawler Craton mineral region of South Australia. The facility utilises sub-level caving, where high-grade ore is extracted and transported to the surface via a conveyor system. The on-site processing plant has an initial capacity of 4.25 million tonnes per annum, producing copper concentrate and gold byproducts. The project scope includes an underground mine, state-of-the-art processing plant, tailings storage facility, high-voltage power infrastructure, a 550-room accommodation village, and an airstrip to support remote operations.

 

The project demanded proactive stakeholder alignment, strategic quality oversight, and electrical and instrumentation (E&I) integration. This involved management of fabrication, testing, and delivery of critical high-voltage equipment from international vendors while navigating complex scheduling, compliance, and logistical challenges.

 

In December 2019, Carrapateena successfully delivered its first saleable copper-gold concentrate, meeting its projected timeline. The project was awarded the 2018 SA Premier’s Award in Energy and Mining for “Excellence in Working with Communities”, recognising its exemplary local content strategy developed in collaboration with the Global Maintenance Upper Spencer Gulf.