Community
9 April, 2025
Glencore to release much-anticipated social transition plan
The mining company will outline its methods of reducing the impact to Mount Isa from the closure of MICO.
Mount Isa City Council is one step closer to getting a crucial parcel of land for its planned critical minerals industrial precinct, with Glencore committing to the property transfer in its social transition plan.
Glencore used last week’s community forum to unveil initiatives that would reduce the socio-economic impacts from the closure of underground operations in July.
The social transition strategy, which is yet to be released in full, lists 19 projects either committed or under consideration.
These include an inter-company network focused on workforce retention, a business group dedicated to improving livability outcomes, a supplier conference event and supporting the council’s industrial precinct concept through the land deal.
Mount Isa City Council has been lobbying since last year for Glencore to transfer a tract of land bordering George Fisher Mine to house its planned The Australian Critical Minerals Industrial Precinct (TACMIP) – a lynchpin project in its Future Ready Economy Roadmap.
The council has already signed three memorandums of understanding with green technology companies to host projects at TACMIP as part of efforts to diversify the Mount Isa economy.
Glencore zinc assets chief operating officer Sam Strohmayr said the company had an in-principal agreement.
“We next have to step through the legal hoops, around tenure and environmental approvals, like any large business has to do,” he said.
“We see an opportunity to work with the council, but in principle, we think the project is a good idea.”
Mr Strohmayr will depart Glencore next month after more than three decades working across Glencore and Xstrata operations, including serving as the Mount Isa Mines boss for most of the past five years.
The news comes amid a Glencore Australia management restructure.
Mr Strohmayr said he believed he left Mount Isa Mines on a solid footing for the future.