• Connect with us
    • Information
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Careers
      • Partnerships
      • Advertise With Us
      • Authors
      • Browse Topics
      • Events
      • Disclaimer
      • Privacy Policy
    • NORTH AMERICA EDITION
      Australia
      North America
      World
    Login
    Investing News NetworkYour trusted source for investing success
    • NORTH AMERICA EDITION
      North America
      Australia
      World
    • My INN
    Videos
    Companies
    Press Releases
    Private Placements
    SUBSCRIBE
    • Reports & Guides
      • Market Outlook Reports
      • Investing Guides
    • Button
    Resource
    • Precious Metals
    • Battery Metals
    • Base Metals
    • Energy
    • Critical Metals
    Tech
    Life Science
    Australia Market
    Australia News
    Australia Stocks
    • Australia Market
    • Australia News
    • Australia Stocks
    1. Home>
    2. Australia Investing>
    Loading...
    0

    OZ Minerals Eyes Carrapateena Copper Project Expansion

    Olivia Da Silva
    Mar. 07, 2019 03:00PM PST

    New scoping study results have OZ Minerals believing it can double mine throughput at its Carrapateena asset in South Australia.

    OZ Minerals Eyes Carrapateena Copper Project Expansion

    Following the completion of a scoping study, OZ Minerals (ASX:OZL,OTC:OZMLF) believes it can double mine throughput and increase life-of-mine (LOM) average copper production at its Carrapateena asset.

    The study explored the option of replacing the lower half of Carrapateena’s sub-level cave with a block cave from 2026, which found that the conversion would boost mine throughput from 4.25 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) to 10 to 12 Mtpa. Additionally, LOM average copper production would grow from 65,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) to a range of 105,000 to 125,000 tpa.


    “The Carrapateena block cave expansion work showed the conversion to a block cave to be the most value accretive next step for the Carrapateena resource and conceptually for the entire province, as it potentially enables a series of future add-on block caves, which themselves will now be the subject of a Carrapateena Life of Province Plan scoping study,” OZ Minerals CEO Andrew Cole said in a statement.

    While Cole added that life-of-mine all-in sustaining costs would be reduced to US$0.90 to US$0.95 per pound, the expansion would be anything but inexpensive. The scoping study revealed the block cave expansion would see a pre-production capital of $1 to $1.3 billion; Carrapateena was already docketed to incur pre-production capital costs of $916 million.

    However, the company maintains further value would be found from pursuing the expansion.

    “The potential for the Carrapateena Block Cave Expansion to progressively unlock the Carrapateena Life of Province more broadly via a controlled, methodical and incremental approach is particularly attractive as it manages risk and capital expenditure whilst enhancing value for shareholders and other stakeholders,” Cole said.

    Carrapateena, located in South Australia, is currently under construction with first sub-level cave production docketed for Q4 2019 followed by an 18-month ramp-up; the project is set to have a 20-year mine life.

    Going forward, OZ intends to complete a prefeasibility study for the block cave expansion by mid-2020, along with pushing the life of province plan to scoping study status.

    Copper was trading at US$6,421.33 as of 3:42 p.m. EST on Thursday (March 7).

    Meanwhile, OZ Minerals’ share price took a small hit on Thursday when it dropped 0.58 percent on the ASX, closing the day of trading at AU$10.31 per stock.

    Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!

    Securities Disclosure: I, Olivia Da Silva, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    The Conversation (0)

    Go Deeper

    AI Powered
    Closeup of the end of many copper cylinders of varying sizes.

    Top 5 ASX Copper Stocks of 2025

    A person's hand holds a piece of copper metal ore above a blurry copper-colored background.

    What's the Next US Copper Mine? 27 Copper Projects to Watch

    Olivia Da Silva

    Olivia Da Silva

    A graduate of Durham College's broadcast journalism program, Olivia has a passion for all things newsworthy. She got her start writing about esports (competitive video games), where she specialized in professional Call of Duty coverage. Since then, Olivia has transitioned into business writing for INN where her beats have included Australian mining and base metals.

    Latest News

    BPH Energy Limited Quarterly Activities Report

    Blackstone Secures New Diamond Drill Rig to Advance Mankayan

    Quarterly Activities/Appendix 5B Cash Flow Report

    Galan Lithium Limited: Incentive Regime for HMW Project in Argentina

    Executive Presentation - July 2025

    More News

    Outlook Reports

    Resource
    • Precious Metals
      • Gold
      • Silver
    • Battery Metals
      • Lithium
      • Cobalt
      • Graphite
    • Energy
      • Uranium
      • Oil and Gas
    • Base Metals
      • Copper
      • Nickel
      • Zinc
    • Critical Metals
      • Rare Earths
    • Industrial Metals
    • Agriculture
    Tech
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Cybersecurity
      • Gaming
      • Cleantech
      • Emerging Tech
    Life Science
      • Biotech
      • Cannabis
      • Psychedelics
      • Pharmaceuticals

    Featured Australia Investing Stocks

    Blackstone Minerals

     
    BSX:AU

    Osisko Metals: Pure Potential

     
    OM:CA

    Los Andes Copper

     
    LA:CA

    Questcorp Mining

     
    QQQ:CC

    Cygnus Metals

     
    CYG:CC

    Empire Metals

     
    EPMLF
    More featured stocks

    Browse Companies

    Resource
    • Precious Metals
    • Battery Metals
    • Energy
    • Base Metals
    • Critical Metals
    Tech
    Life Science
    MARKETS
    COMMODITIES
    CURRENCIES
    ×
    Olivia Da Silva
    Olivia Da Silva

    A graduate of Durham College's broadcast journalism program, Olivia has a passion for all things newsworthy. She got her start writing about esports (competitive video games), where she specialized in professional Call of Duty coverage. Since then, Olivia has transitioned into business writing for INN where her beats have included Australian mining and base metals.

    Full Bio

    Learn about our editorial policies.