A YEAR of achievement was celebrated at the community information session for Glencore’s Ernest Henry Mining operation at Cloncurry yesterday.
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Chief mining officer Matt O’Neill reported the operation’s significant progress since the transition from open pit to underground shaft mining in June 2014, with record mine development achieved last month.
“We would like to thank our people, who have been integral to transforming Ernest Henry Mining over the past five years and securing its bright future,” Mr O’Neill said.
“The focus now is to continue strengthening our business by improving efficiency and identifying synergies to further increase our production rate.”
Chief processing officer Richard Harvey told the community that as a major mining operation in the region, Ernest Henry Mining had been able to support smaller regional mines by processing their ore at its on-site concentrator.
“This has the mutual benefit of providing an important value-adding service to other local industry players, while utilising the full capacity of our infrastructure and raising our production profile,” Mr Harvey said.
“Importantly, these accomplishments are backed by an improving safety record.
“There have been no lost-time injuries recorded this year and we have achieved reductions in our total injury frequency rate and our high-potential injury frequency rate.
“Our extended life of mine means the Cloncurry community continues to benefit from our operations through critical partnerships, sponsorships, donations and in-kind support.
“In 2014, Glencore invested more than $1.2 million across our north Queensland communities through the Glencore Community Program North Queensland, including three partnerships directly into Cloncurry-based initiatives.
“These funds have made possible the construction of a junior secondary building at St Joseph’s Catholic School, the planned construction of shade structures at Cloncurry State School and funding of a youth and community engagement coordinator over three years for Cloncurry PCYC.
“Additionally, 18 sponsorships valued at more than $143,000 and $35,000 of in-kind support was awarded to Cloncurry initiatives this year.”
The information session provided 30 members of the Cloncurry and nearby communities with an update on the Ernest Henry operation, including health, safety, environment and community performance.
