Glencore response to mayors’ comments in Queensland

Media release

We communicate and engage regularly with Minister Dale Last, Mayor MacRae and Mayor Vea Vea, and none of them have raised this proposal with us before. The first we heard about it was from a journalist.

We are baffled why regional Mayors would be threatening Glencore investment in metal manufacturing and resources projects in regional Queensland.

The Commonwealth and Queensland Governments have been clear that they expect us to continue to invest in regional Queensland.

We want to keep the Mount Isa Smelter and Townsville Refinery in operation and are working with all levels of Government, to weather the challenges of uncertain global markets and high costs in Australia, particularly gas and energy. We support Mayor MacRae’s call for a regional solution.

We have always shown a strong commitment to our workforce and the communities in which we operate. Workforce and social transition are always a major focus for us in the lead up to the closure of any of our assets as they reach the end of their economic lives.

Glencore’s annual direct economic contribution to the State of Queensland is around $10.5 billion, including support for 3,910 Australian businesses.

Glencore has actively engaged with Government since 2019 regarding Glenden.

We have put forward an option to Government on Glenden which includes gifting many of the houses and business / commercial infrastructure in the town in alignment with the Glenden Transitional Plan as presented by Government.  

For further information, please contact:

Francis De Rosa
m: +61 417 074 751
e: Francis De Rosa

Agata Graham
m: +61 438 304 345
e: Agata Graham

Notes for editors

About Glencore in Queensland

In Queensland, Glencore produces coal, zinc, copper, lead and silver from nine active mining operations. We also operate metals processing assets, including concentrators, smelters and refineries. Our copper processing assets in Mount Isa and Townsville represent one of only two integrated smelting and refining operations in Australia.  In addition, our smelter is the only one in Australia to process third-party concentrate. 

We are among Queensland’s largest producers and marketers of natural resources, connecting the state’s resources with industrial customers around the world. Through our diverse portfolio, we responsibly supply the resources that advance everyday life.

We provide jobs for 8,680 people in Queensland and in 2023 made a direct socio-economic contribution of $10.5 billion in the state. This included spend of $6.1 billion with 3,910 Australian businesses, many of which are local and regional, as well as $3.3 billion in government tax and royalty payments.

We are committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace for our people, to respecting the environment, to engaging openly and constructively with the Traditional Owners on whose lands we operate and to bringing value to local communities.

We will support the global effort to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement through our efforts to decarbonise our own operational footprint. We believe that we should take a holistic approach and have considered our commitment through the lens of our global industrial emissions. For more information see our 2024-2026 Climate Action Transition Plan, available on our website at glencore.com/publications. 

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