{
  "id": 5552860,
  "title": "Miner digs deep to extend life of old copper operation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/miner-digs-deep-to-extend-life-of-old-copper-operation",
  "topic": null,
  "section": null,
  "published": "2026-09-04T08:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discovered",
    "slug": "discovered",
    "url": "https://bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/9344224/miner-digs-deep-to-extend-life-of-old-copper-operation"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The deep underground copper mine CSA, located 14km northwest of Cobar in central-western New South Wales, has been acquired by Harmony Gold Mining Company from its previous owner, MAC Copper, for $1.6 billion in October 2025. The mine, which extends almost two kilometres below the surface and has about 45 levels, has a mine life of 12 years. Harmony's general manager, Rob Gracey, has an aggressive plan to almost double the life of the asset, potentially extending the main ore body down to 2.7km, which could yield around 700,000 tonnes of contained copper. Copper demand is on the rise due to its importance in data centres supporting the growth of artificial intelligence. Copper is currently trading at $US6.58 per pound, up $US2 from a year ago. Harmony also owns the Eva copper project in Cloncurry, Queensland, and aims to increase production from CSA and Eva to a combined 100,000 copper tonnes annually over the next three to five years. CSA employs about 500 people and contractors, playing a significant role as a major employer in Cobar, a town of about 5000 residents. The mine produced 18,000 tonnes between October and June, with the highest production in May at 4159 tonnes. If these figures are extrapolated, annual production is estimated at 48,000 tonnes. CSA has a workforce of 500 employees and contractors, consisting of residential, fly-in, fly-out, and drive-in, drive-out personnel. Women make up approximately 22% of the workforce, many of whom are involved in school drop-off and pick-up while driving trucks at the mine.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}