The ICN NT Resources team is working closely with Glencore, one of the world's largest global diversified natural resource companies, to strengthen local supplier opportunities for the McArthur River Mine’s ongoing operations and proposed expansion.

Operating since 1995, McArthur River Mine (MRM) is a world-class zinc-lead mine that is a major contributor to the Territory economy. Situated in the Gulf of Carpentaria, 970 km southeast of Darwin, the mine provides direct employment to about 1,000 people, including contractors.

In 2019, the mine spent $89 million on wages, $76 million on capital projects, $333 million on goods and services, and $1.8 million on community investment projects.

Initially established as an underground mine, the operation converted to open-pit mining in 2006, creating even more opportunities for local suppliers to get involved with the major operation. MRM produces zinc,lead and a little bit of silver which is processed and stored onsite before being transported to the Bing Bong Loading Facility and shipped to customers all over the world.

Recently, MRM and ICN NT held an industry meet and greet with Territory businesspeople to showcase the opportunities that exist at the mine for local suppliers and reinforce MRM’s commitment to local procurement. The current mine life extends to 2038 with an extra 10 years reprocessing tailings. Last year, Glencore was given the green light to start work on its plans to extend the mining operations at MRM until 2048.

“MRM has an ongoing commitment to source as much as possible from within the Northern Territory, using suppliers that can offer quality at competitive prices,” ICN NT Executive Director, Kevin Peters said.

Work packages are regularly listed on the mine’s Gateway page and local companies interested in supplying goods or services to the mine are encouraged to register for updates.