The NSW Government has approved the $693 million Copi Mineral Sands Project in the State’s Far South West, in what is being positioned as a major development for Australia’s critical minerals supply chain and the energy transition.
The approval, announced by NSW Government, covers a project located around 180 kilometres south-west of Broken Hill. It is expected to process up to 27 million tonnes of material and produce up to 400,000 tonnes a year of critical mineral ore over an 18-year period.
The project will extract titanium-bearing minerals including ilmenite, rutile and zircon, as well as rare earth concentrates such as monazite. These materials are used in technologies including electric vehicles, wind turbines, telecommunications equipment, medical devices and defence applications.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the project would support both industry needs and regional infrastructure.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos said the state was seeking to translate its mineral resources into long-term investment and industry growth.
“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,” she said.
“With 21 of the 31 nationally identified critical minerals, NSW is uniquely positioned to be a globally significant supplier.”
She said the project would contribute significantly to production volumes over time and strengthen supply chains for key industries.
The project is expected to create 480 jobs during construction and about 200 ongoing roles, with around half of the workforce anticipated to come from surrounding communities.
It also includes associated infrastructure works, such as upgrades to local roads for transport to the South Australian border and use of an existing rail facility in Broken Hill.
The project still requires approval under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The approval marks the second critical minerals project signed off by the Minns Labor Government in four months, following the Aeris Resources Constellation Project, which will supply copper ore.
The government also pointed to its 2024 Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Strategy, which includes measures such as a $250 million royalty deferral, pre-competitive data access and matching grants to support exploration.
