Newmont Corporation’s Cadia operation in Orange – Australia’s largest underground mine – has received The Copper Mark and The Molybdenum Mark after an independent assessment.
Cadia is Newmont’s first site globally to receive the award after successfully meeting more than 30 criteria needed in critical areas including environment, community, human rights and governance, amongst others.
Newmont’s Cadia mine is the nation’s second largest copper producer and the third site in Australia to receive The Copper Mark. Cadia is the only operating mine producing molybdenum in Australia and thus the only mine to receive The Molybdenum Mark, a critical mineral used in industry and defence.
Newmont Chief Safety and Sustainability Officer, Suzy Retallack, said that meeting growing global demand for copper brings an obligation to sustainability and responsible mining which prioritises environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic development for the communities in which Newmont operates.
“We take great pride in being at the forefront of the copper industry with The Copper Mark, which highlights our dedication to responsible production and transparency,” Ms Retallack said.
“This means our global customers can now choose to source copper concentrate from an independently evaluated mine that meets the highest standards in environmental, social, and governance practices, responding to the increasing demand for sustainable supply chains.”
In 2020, Cadia entered into a 15-year renewable Power Purchase Agreement with Tilt Renewables to buy 55 per cent of the wind farm’s output. Now fully operational, Rye Park is supplying approximately half of Cadia’s power needs.
“Cadia’s commitment to the community supported an investment of almost $6 million in the 18 months to December 2023 to support community projects, education and infrastructure,” Ms Retallack said.
The Copper Mark’s Executive Director, Michèle Brülhart, congratulated the team of Cadia for being the third site in Australia to achieve The Copper Mark and the first site to get The Molybdenum Mark.
“With this, about 35 per cent of Australia’s copper is produced at sites that have obtained The Copper Mark.”
The Copper Mark is the leading assurance framework to promote responsible, sustainable and ethical practices across the copper, molybdenum, nickel and zinc value chains.
Cadia is located approximately 25km south-southwest of Orange in Central West New South Wales and 250km west of Sydney, and comprises the Cadia East underground mine, which is one of the largest gold and copper deposits in the world, and Ridgeway Underground Mine, currently in care and maintenance.
