Miner Joins Wentworth Community, August 2024
RZ RESOURCES Executive Chairman, David Fraser, far right, hosted the official opening of the company’s Wentworth shopfront in Darling Street last week. Supporting him were, from left, Phil Grant (Environment), Zaki Kayal (Geologist and Safety Representative), Rhiana Littlejohn (Community Affairs Stakeholder Engagement Officer) and Joshua Lawn (Driller/Offsider).
The Australian company’s Copi Mine, 75km north-west of Wentworth, is focused on producing critical minerals used in renewable energy, electronics, telecommunications, defence and advanced medical devices.
In its Environmental Impact Statement, RZ Resources forecasts the creation of up to 480 jobs during construction and 240 jobs when operations begin. The company also sees its contribution to the Wentworth economy to be worth up to $97m yearly during operations.
Community engagement is an important strategy for RZ. To date it has contributed a total $140,000 to projects such as the recently renovated Junction Island Bridge and to the building of a new pavilion for the Wentworth Show. Employees also helped with the clean-up following the floods.
The company intends using a shallow wet-dredge mining process which will allow continuous rehabilitation of the site.
– Mary Akkerman, NSW Standard Bulletin, 29 August 2024