Aurelia Metals’ Federation mine is set to open today, paving the way for new critical minerals to be mined in New South Wales.
The Federation mine is located within the eastern boundary of the Cobar Basin. It was first discovered in April 2019 and received development consent from the NSW Department of Planning and Environment in 2023 for mining operations until 2036.
Federation hosts high-grade zinc, lead, gold and copper mineralisation, all of which are essential for the global energy transition.
Over an initial eight-year mine life, Federation is projected to produce up to 600,000 tonnes (t) per annum by using underground mining techniques, with the ore to be processed at Aurelia’s Peak and Hera processing facilities.
It will commence mining with an initial production target of four million tonnes of ore, comprising approximately 328,000t of zinc, 192,000t of lead, 12,000t of copper, 116,000 ounces of gold and 772,000 ounces of silver.
“It is remarkable to be opening a brand new mine only discovered in 2019,” Aurelia chief executive officer Bryan Quinn said.
“The short turnaround is testament to the excellent collaboration of NSW government agencies, the Aurelia team and strong support from the community.”
Federation is expected to create more than more than 140 skilled jobs and provide a $143 million investment for the local community. It is also estimated the mine will contribute $74 million in royalties over its initial mine life.
“It puts in place a strong foundation for the future success of the Federation mine and high-quality jobs and opportunities in the region,” Quinn said.
“Federation is one of the highest-grade base metals development projects in Australia and is a key building block to unlock Aurelia’s growth potential in the Cobar Basin. Cash flow generated from Federation will help to advance Aurelia’s next organic growth project, which is the Great Cobar deposit.”
Federation’s opening will be attended by NSW Natural Resources Minister Courtney Houssos, who described the milestone as an example of the NSW Government’s commitment to unlocking critical minerals.
“Mining has a long and proud history in NSW, and opening the Federation mine today shows it also has a bright future,” Houssos said.
“The critical minerals and high-tech metals from mines across NSW will help build the products for a clean energy future. With deposits of 21 of the 31 nationally identified critical and strategic minerals, NSW is well placed to be a global leader.
“The Federation mine will bring immediate employment and investment benefits to Cobar, but it will also support more jobs and investment through supply chains and towns right across the far west.
“Congratulations to the investors, management and workforce of Aurelia Metals’ Federation mine as well as the far western NSW community.”
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