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Part of the Mount Isa Business Unit, the Townsville Operations encompass the copper refinery, port operations, marketing, customer services and logistics. The Bowen Coke works producing metallurgical coke for the Mount Isa lead smelter is also managed by the Townsville Operations.
MIM's copper refinery in Townsville is one of the world's leading electrolytic copper refineries producing 99.997% pure LME Grade A copper cathode. The Townsville refinery treats copper anode from Mount Isa. The refinery has a capacity of 270,000 tonnes of refined copper a year. This accommodates the throughput from Ernest Henry (concentrate initially to Isa for smelting) and the continuing output for Mount Isa's copper mine and the Enterprise mine. The refinery uses the MIM-developed ISA PROCESS which uses permanent stainless steel cathode motherplates in association with automated copper cathode stripping machinery. This development represents the biggest single advance in copper refining since the late nineteenth century.
The ISA PROCESS is licensed worldwide (53 licensees currently) and is used to produce more than 35% of the western world's refined copper. The Townsville refinery expansion incorporated the latest ISA PROCESS Technology advances and innovations. Some of the innovative features of this modern refinery include:
In early 1956 the name Copper Refineries Pty Ltd was registered as a subsidiary company of Mount Isa Mines Limited for the purpose of constructing and operating a copper refinery in Townsville. Land was acquired at Stuart near Townsville in a location that had many advantages arising from proximity to rail routes, ample area in an industrial district, reasonable access to Townsville wharves, access to the labour force of the city and other facilities such as electric power and general services. Following the refinery's construction, it was officially opened on 2 October, 1959 by the then Premier of Queensland, the Hon. G.F.R. Nicklin. Initial production capacity was 40,000 tonnes a year.
The bulk handling operation is designed for bulk mineral product export and with the expansion of the North-west Minerals Province, this facility has grown rapidly. Mineral products are delivered by rail, tippled and placed in storage prior to ship loading. Under cover storage capacity is 15,000 square metres. Ship loading facilities exist for:
Total throughput for the year ending 30 June 2002 was1 636 000 tonnes. Townsville Port is the gateway to the North-west Minerals Province. MIM has been a major user and investor in the development of the Townsville Port for 70 years. With this investment came long term leases over strategic assets in the port. MIM utilises these assets to service the export of our products as well as that of third parties.
Considered the ‘capital’ of North Queensland, Townsville has a population of 140,000. Its restaurants, entertainment, nightlife and access to water sports are envied by many other cities. Magnetic Island is a 20 minute ferry ride from Townsville. Half of the island is a National Park and is easy to explore by bus, foot, motor bike, mini moke or take your car across on one of the regular barge services. Townsville is home to the Crocodiles basketball team and the North Queensland Cowboys rugby league team. Both teams participate in their respective national competition. Culturally Townsville’s local dance company Dance North tours on a local, national and international basis and a host of musical and performing arts events and festivals are staged in the city each year. Historically north Queensland’s past heritage can be seen throughout the area. Townsville - its location integral to the North-west Minerals Province - is a busy shipping port, has Army and Air Force bases and is home to many government departments. With an annual rainfall of 1200 mm, this tropical city boasts temperatures ranging from 170 to 300 in spring, 200 to 310 in summer, 200 to 280 in autumn and 130 to 250 in winter and an average of 300 days of sunshine each year. Currently operating with 54 bee hive ovens, the works produces:
Major Australian customers are Mount Isa Mines (metallurgical coke for the lead smelter) and Comalco Boyne Smelter (nut coke) at Gladstone, with breeze coke exported to overseas customers. The Bowen Coke Works was established by the Queensland State Government in 1933 to utilise coking coal from the State Coal Mine in Collinsville. By 1975, MIM had taken over coal mining operations at Collinsville and in 1988 purchased and took over operation of the coke works.
Townsville is also the base for the team responsible for the marketing and sales of all ISA products and the logistics and administration of delivering product from Mount Isa through to customer delivery points worldwide. The marketing team is responsible for three areas:
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