BHP Copper South Australia asset president Anna Wiley. Image: Austmine
Adelaide was yesterday the global meeting place for copper as Copper to the World 2025 opened at the Adelaide Convention Centre, welcoming close to 600 delegates from across Australia and international markets.
Hosted by Austmine and presented in partnership with the Government of South Australia through the Department for Energy & Mining, the conference is exploring the theme ‘The Copper Advantage: Powering the Future’ – highlighting copper’s essential role in the energy transition and the technologies shaping the industry’s next chapter.
SA Minister for Energy and Mining Tom Koutsantonis, and Department for Energy & Mining chief executive Paul Martyn officially opened the event. BHP, as principal partner, set the tone with Anna Wiley, Copper South Australia asset president, outlining how the company is positioning to meet future demand and support a sustainable copper industry.
“South Australia is home to two thirds of Australia’s high-quality copper resources,” she said. “The state is widely regarded as a good jurisdiction for mining, and here in South Australia it is well positioned to meet growing global demand.
“By living our Copper South Australia purpose of creating a brighter future together, we’ll continue to work with our partners to unlock the true potential of what can be a globally significant copper province right here in the state.”
Minister Koutsantonis reinforced copper’s critical role in South Australia’s future.
“There is no path to decarbonisation without copper,” he said. “South Australia sits at the intersection of abundant copper and clean energy, and our vision is to establish this state as a world-class copper producer and a global hub for innovation and technology.”
Martyn said Copper to the World reflects South Australia’s long-term approach to building partnerships between industry and government.
“Energy and mining are inextricably linked, and that connection is driving demand for copper worldwide,” he said. “Here in South Australia, we bring those agendas together – renewable energy, decarbonisation, exploration and mining – to unlock growth and opportunity.
“Just as we did with the discovery of Olympic Dam 50 years ago, we are committed to working side by side with industry to build the copper provinces of the future and ensure South Australia is at the forefront of global supply.”
Austmine chair Dr Dallas Wilkinson said Copper to the World underscored both the urgency and the opportunity for copper in a fast-changing world.
“Copper to the World highlights the ingenuity, resourcefulness and capability of Australia’s METS sector, with world-class solutions on display that are shaping the future of mining,” he said.
“What’s clear from today’s discussions is that meeting the world’s growing demand for copper cannot be achieved in isolation; it requires global collaboration, robust discussions, open minds and bold innovation. Austmine is proud to provide this platform that brings together the expertise and partnerships needed to deliver copper more sustainably and at the scale our future requires.”
Global perspectives and industry leadership
Plenary sessions featured leaders from BHP, Sandvik, Worley, Dyno Nobel, Metso and Minsur, alongside ambassadors from Chile, Peru and Argentina. Discussions centred on how Australia and Latin America are central to securing future supply, balancing demand growth with environmental and social expectations.
Breakout streams highlighted digital transformation and next-generation copper processing. Companies including Salesforce, Dassault Systèmes, EnviroCopper, Sedgman, CSIRO and Multotec showcased advances in automation, AI, ore characterisation and smarter processing methods.
Australian METS innovation on display
The exhibition floor placed Australian innovation and industry capability in the spotlight, featuring more than 30 METS companies alongside leading miners, South Australian explorers and industry associations such as the International Copper Association of Australia.
From robotics and real-time data platforms to advanced mineral processing systems and exploration technologies, the exhibition highlighted the breadth of solutions driving copper development and positioning Australia as a global leader in mining innovation.
Innovation was also centre stage during Innovation Hour, where finalists pitched transformative technologies to address two critical challenges: deep copper mining and advanced copper processing.
Pitches ranged from AI-driven exploration models to next-generation hydrometallurgical techniques, with judges from BHP, Rio Tinto, Fleet Space Technologies and Austmine assessing the solutions.
Copper to the World continues in Adelaide today. Find out more here.