Townsville's Refinery Reckoning: Will we take our copper to the world?
This week, Townsville Enterprise continues to expose the national risk facing North Queensland’s copper industry through our powerful docu-series.
Today, we launch Episode 3 – Townsville’s Refinery Reckoning, uncovering the critical link between the Mount Isa Copper Smelter and the Townsville Copper Refinery — and the devastating consequences of losing both.
The potential closure of the Mount Isa Copper Smelter has triggered a domino effect that now threatens to mothball the Townsville Copper Refinery, placing thousands of jobs, billions in investment, sovereign capability, and decades of industrial expertise at risk.
This rare insight into the Refinery shows what’s truly at stake — a facility that has anchored our economy and driven innovation for over 60 years.
Governments must recognise we are five minutes to midnight on keeping this supply chain intact. We must continue producing and manufacturing copper right here in North Queensland.
Our message is clear: giving up on copper means giving up on the future.
