The newest critical minerals and high-tech metals mine was officially opened on Wednesday 11 September 2024, in the regional NSW mining town of Cobar.
Aurelia Metals’ Federation mine, will support more than 140 skilled jobs and provide a $143 million investment boost to the Far West.
The mine will produce up to 600,000 tonnes each year, with a focus on high-grade zinc, gold, copper and lead.
Copper has a transformative role in new energy technologies and electrification as a highly efficient conduit and is used in renewable energy systems including solar, hydro, thermal and wind energy. Zinc is used in solar panel production, batteries and energy storage.
Gold is essential to circuitry components and wiring in many electronics, including for solar panels and electric vehicles, while lead has widespread in industrial applications including back-up power systems in data centres, is used in electrical systems in most electric and hybrid vehicles, and in use in radiography and nuclear medicine.
The opening of the Federation mine builds on the NSW Government’s commitment to critical minerals and high-tech metals mining in NSW. These minerals are important to the clean energy future and support valuable jobs in regional NSW.
Around 4,000 people are directly employed in critical minerals and high-tech metals mines across NSW.
Aurelia Metals is an Australian-listed mining and exploration company with its key production hub in the Cobar region of NSW.
Federation will use modern underground mining techniques, reducing its environmental footprint by operating predominantly below ground.
The mine was only discovered in 2019 and received consent in 2023.
Cobar has a long history as a mining region for base metals and gold, with the first production of copper occurring in the late 1800s.Today, mining continues as the key industry underpinning the local economy in Cobar. About 40 per cent of the local workforce is directly employed in the mining industry.
Federation will be the newest operating mine in the Cobar region, joining the CSA copper and silver mine, the Peak copper, gold, zinc and lead mine, and Tritton copper mine also in production. A fifth mine, the Endeavor silver, lead and zinc mine, is expected to restart production next year.