The Queensland Government has tabled an offer of support to Glencore’s Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville refinery and is calling on the Federal Government to step up.

In a statement, the Government said its committed to securing the ongoing operations of the historic facilities.

“The Queensland Government has tabled a responsible offer of support to help protect local jobs and ensure the long-term future of these critical operations,” the Queensland Government said. “Glencore is currently considering this offer.

“The Federal Government must now come to the table and do its share to protect jobs in North Queensland.”

The offer comes amid high-level discussions between state and federal ministers and Glencore executives, as the global miner reviews the future of its north Queensland copper operations.

On June 19, Federal Minister Tim Ayres and Queensland Minister Dale Last met with Glencore’s senior leadership to discuss a path forward.

The smelter supports thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and is a cornerstone of Australia’s copper value chain.

“The Mount Isa copper smelter is a cornerstone of Queensland’s economy and supports the viability of nationally significant supply chain infrastructure like the Mount Isa to Townsville rail line and the Port of Townsville,” Last said.

“We are continuing to engage in good faith with Glencore, and we expect Glencore to do the same.”

Ayres echoed the importance of the facility, warning that closure could impact Australia’s sovereign manufacturing and mineral processing capability.

“As a vital industrial site for the Mount Isa community and the broader region, any closure … would have a detrimental impact on Australia’s sovereign capability,” Ayres said.

This comes as Glencore releases its half-year production report, where the company provided an update on an operational review.

“A comprehensive review of our industrial asset portfolio during the period recognised opportunities to streamline our industrial operating structure, to optimise departmental management and reporting, and to support enhanced technical excellence and operational focus,” Glencore chief executive officer Gary Nagle said.

“This review also identified $1 billion of cost savings opportunities (against a 2024 baseline) across our various operating structures, which are expected to be fully delivered by the end of 2026.”