South Australian resources conference

CONFERENCE CALLER: When asked to name Australia’s resources friendly states most people tend to place South Australia low on the ladder.

South Australia was also one of the first states to introduce industry-friendly government policies, and in doing so has emerged from the resources wilderness to become a leader in Australian mining and hydrocarbon developments over the past decade.

South Australia is home to a number of world-class deposits and emerging producers.

From just four operations a decade ago, SA now boasts 20 operating mines and can also lay claim to being Australia’s second most popular exploration destination, outstripping Queensland in exploration expenditure for the second successive year in 2011.

While the Olympic Dam expansion may have been deferred, the growing presence of BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Xstrata, JOGMEC and a host of other international mining houses is proof that South Australia’s rise in prominence continues at a cracking pace.

Next week the Australian resources industry, from copper plays in the Gawler Craton, to iron ore developments on the Eyre Peninsula and the emergence of the Cooper Basin as Australia’s new era hydrocarbon frontier, will gather in Adelaide for the Paydirt South Australian Resources and Energy Investment Conference.

The conference will be the debut appearance of new Federal Government Resources and Energy Minister Gary Gray since his recent elevation to the key resources portfolio.

 

Also delivering keynote addresses will be South Australia Premier Jay Wetherill, who will be joind by his Mines and Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis.

Filling the bill are a line-up of nearly 50 speakers to address the three day conference, including a leading commentator on Australia’s emerging potential sales of uranium to India and the head of Australia’s peak uranium industry lobby.

Also on the agenda are discussions of the issues of climate change, productivity challenges facing the mining sector, and an update on the new access arrangements for exploration and mining in the Woomera Prohibited Area.

In a departure from previous years, a specific uranium-only agenda has been set for the first day – Monday April 29 – with a forum of industry representatives gathering at the Intercontinental Hotel from 9.15 a.m.

It is expected more than 330 delegates will gather at the Adelaide Convention Centre over the following two days (Tuesday April 30 – Wednesday May 1) for the conference.