What is copper?
Copper is a reddish-brown metal known for being one of the best conductors of electricity and heat. It is strong, flexible, recyclable and essential to modern life — from powering cities to enabling the clean-energy transition.
Where copper comes from
Copper forms in volcanic and sedimentary rocks deep underground. It is often found together with other minerals such as gold, silver and molybdenum.
Harmony recently acquired the high-grade CSA Copper mine in New South Wales, Australia and is developing the Eva Copper project in Queensland, Australia.
How copper is produced
Copper can be mined in several ways, but the process usually includes:
1.
Open-pit mining – Used when deposits are close to the surface (as planned for Eva Copper)
2.
Underground mining – Used for deeper deposits (like CSA Copper mine)
3.
Processing – Ore is crushed, milled and processed to produce copper concentrate.
4.
Refining – Copper is purified and transformed into sheets, rods and wiring
5.
Sale and use – Copper is sold to industrial and commercial markets.
Why copper is important
Copper is important due to its excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, high ductility and malleability, corrosion resistance and anti-microbial properties. Copper is also used to create strong, durable alloys.
Electrification
Copper is essential for transmission and distribution lines, transformers and generators, substations and switchgear, grounding systems and appliance wiring.
Clean energy transition
Copper is central to the global shift to clean energy. It is used in solar farms, wind turbines, electric vehicles, battery storage and charging infrastructure.
Construction and infrastructure
Copper is used in various building components; in plumbing, electrical wiring, heating, air conditioning, roofing and other fixtures.
Transport and industrial
Copper alloys are a key material in industrial machinery and tools while vehicles, trains, and cars require significant amounts of copper.
Harmony’s approach to responsible copper development
Harmony has significantly increased its copper footprint in recent years. In addition the Wafi-Golpu copper-gold greenfield joint venture in Papua New Guinea, our portfolio now includes the CSA copper mine and Eva copper project in Australia. .
Caring for the environment
Harmony is developing comprehensive environmental management plans for its Australian copper assets aligned with regulatory requirements covering water management, biodiversity protection, energy efficiency and progressive rehabilitation.
Partnerships and local benefits
We are working with traditional owners in Australia, including the Kalkadoon People, to protect culture, land and heritage while supporting jobs and procurement opportunities.
A long-term growth opportunity
Harmony’s copper assets facilitate strategic diversification, providing a natural hedge against gold price volatility, and positioning the company to benefit from the increasing global demand for copper, a key “future-facing” metal critical to the clean energy transition.
