General News
4 June, 2025
Pricing fix crucial for North West economy, says Townsville leader
The current energy market in the North West is stifling industrial growth.
Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith says all levels of government must urgently prioritise saving the Mount Isa Copper Smelter and Townsville Copper Refinery.
“If these critical assets shut down, Queensland wouldn’t just lose an industry – we would lose a vital link in Australia’s sovereign manufacturing chain,” she said following last week’s 2025 Townsville Enterprise Mining and Critical Minerals Forum.
Ms Brumme-Smith said the current energy market in the North West Minerals Province – controlled by a single gas supplier – was stifling industrial growth and putting critical infrastructure at risk.
“Right now, our copper miners are paying more than double the power costs of competitors in China, India and the United States, and they have no alternative to turn to,” she said.
“Not only that – they’re forced to underwrite new energy infrastructure for every project, just like they do for rail and port access. Meanwhile, coal miners in the Bowen Basin pay 40 per cent less for power and aren’t required to fund infrastructure themselves.”
Ms Brumme-Smith said energy affordability was the single biggest threat to the North West’s economic competitiveness, and that CopperString – which would connect the region to the National Electricity Market – must be fast-tracked.
“We need Queensland Investment Corporation to prioritise power contracts with industrial customers west of Hughenden and provide certainty around construction timelines,” she said.
Glen Connell, executive general manager of Harmony Gold – developer of the Eva Copper Mine – said global markets were hungry for North West minerals.
“Reliable, low-cost power is critical for any major investment,” he said.