The Swiss mining company Xstrata has decided to start a $47 million study to transform its Mount Isa mining operation. The firm wishes to develop a large multi-commodity open pit mine at the already present mine in north west Queensland. The study is to begin in August and will be completed by early 2013.
Xstrata Zinc Australia Chief Operating Officer Brian Hearne and Xstrata Copper North Queensland Chief Operating Officer Steve de Kruijff made a joint statement saying the development of a large scale zinc-lead-copper pit has the potential to extend the life of the combined operations to beyond 2060.
The proposal is part of Xstrata’s long term plans to sustain the future of the Mount Isa Mines. They hope to accomplish this extension though expanded mining and concentrate production at the mines. The statement issued by the company said that their aim was to sustainably manage their growth opportunities as well as their environmental and community obligations.
About three months ago Xstrata had said that it was going to phase out copper smelting at Mount Isa and refining in Townsville by 2016. It had said that the staff that was affected would be employed by the company in new jobs.
There is also concern over the dust pollution that comes from the mine site. Professor Peter Sly from the Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute is concerned that an open cut mine would increase the exposure to lead contaminated dust in the local population. In response Xstrata spokesman Steve de Kruijff said that dust management would be part of the study.