South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy

The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) is a not-for-profit, non-government organisation founded in 1979. It represents approximately 130 companies involved in resource extraction and supporting service industries in South Australia.[2]

South Australian Chamber of Mines & Energy
AbbreviationSACOME
TypeNGO
Legal statusNonprofit organization
President
Greg Hall
CEO
Rebecca Knol[1]
Websitewww.sacome.org.au

The organisation has published a number of periodicals including the SA Mines and Energy journal,[3] has been the subject of several feature articles in the resources sector magazine Australia's Paydirt,[4][5] and released SACOME Priorities: State Election 2018[6] and 2024 Vision for the Resources Sector.[7]

Advocacy

Port Bonython

SACOME believes that the growth of iron ore mining in South Australia has been limited by the state's lack of bulk commodities port infrastructure. In 2011, SACOME's CEO Jason Kuchel publicly supported the chosen location for a future 3 km iron ore export wharf at Port Bonython, northeast of Whyalla in South Australia's upper Spencer Gulf region.[8] The location is controversial due to its close proximity to breeding reef for the Northern Spencer Gulf population of giant Australian cuttlefish. The proposed port's potential environmental impact has been challenged by community groups including Save Point Lowly[9] and the Alternative Port Working Party.[10]

Since then other locations have been considered including the Iron Road Limited proposal at Cape Hardy on the Eyre Peninsula.[11]

Nuclear power

SACOME supports the future development of nuclear power in South Australia.[12][13] Among its members are several companies actively involved in uranium mining and exploration. These include BHP Billiton, Areva Resources Australia, Heathgate Resources and Uranium SA.[14] SACOME's Chief Executive Jason Kuchel believes that small modular nuclear reactors could potentially provide energy to remote resources projects, including at mine sites.[15][16] Kuchel's advocacy has been acknowledged by Australian Mining magazine as having influenced the establishment of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission in 2016.[17]

Joint Electricity Purchasing Group

In May 2017, The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) authorised the South Australian Chamber of Mines & Energy (SACOME), along with 27 other South Australian businesses, to establish a joint electricity purchasing group for 11 years. This authorisation allowed the joint buying group to attempt to secure reliable electricity supply arrangements for its members at competitive prices. Together, the group’s total load of 269 MW accounts for around 16 per cent of electricity demand in South Australia and less than one per cent of the National Electricity Market[18]

On 8 June 2018, SACOME awarded an eight-year supply contract to renewable energy retailer SIMEC ZEN Energy, part of Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance, to significantly bring down the cost of electricity for their members[19]. The contract represented a successful outcome for the bulk-buying consortium masterminded by SACOME for its members in 2016, in the face of soaring energy costs and supply reliability concerns in the state. Sanjeev Gupta, Chairman of SIMEC ZEN Energy, said “this outcome demonstrates what can be achieved when businesses decide as a collective that the status quo is not acceptable.[20]

Joy Baluch AM Bridge duplication

In March 2020 The Australian and South Australian Governments committed $200 million ($160 million from the Australian Government and $40 million from the South Australian Government) for the Joy Baluch AM Bridge duplication project.[21][22]

The bridge provides access across the Spencer Gulf for vehicles in the northern region of South Australia. It is a key tourist connection to the Eyre Peninsula, northern South Australia, and beyond.[21]

"The duplication of the Joy Baluch AM Bridge is a key infrastructure priority for SACOME and an example of a major infrastructure project that benefits both the resources sector and the wider community," SACOME CEO Rebecca Knoll said. "We extend thanks to our allied peak industry bodies – the South Australian Freight Council and RAA – along with the Port Augusta City Council for working in partnership to deliver funding for the duplication of the Joy Baluch Bridge and look forward to its completion."[23]

Accelerated Discovery Initiative

In June 2020, the South Australian Liberal Government announced the first round of successful applicants for its $10 million Accelerated Discovery fund assisting in driving jobs and investment in SA’s resources industry[24]. The Accelerated Discovery Initiative (ADI) embraces innovation, collaboration and capacity building to advance exploration activity in South Australia. It provides a co-funded Government contribution toward exploration activities, contributing to the South Australian Growth Agenda target through supporting the potential discovery of new mineral and groundwater resources, while delivering a number of other economic and social benefits[25]. SACOME extensively lobbied the State Government in 2018 and 2019 to reinstate a Mineral Exploration Incentive program, recognising the importance of exploration incentives as an investment attraction tool; and exploration activity as critical to securing South Australia’s future resources project pipeline.

In South Australia, exploration incentive programs have been responsible for catalysing an extra $700 million in mineral exploration investment increasing State mining revenue to $2.4 billion, amply demonstrating their economic benefits and return on investment for government. Rebecca Knol, SACOME Chief Executive Officer said “The South Australian resources sector is well-positioned to play an important role in South Australia’s post COVID-19 recovery and the awarding of the first round of ADI grant funding will materially assist the discovery of new deposits and a continuing pipeline of resources projects and help to retain skilled jobs in the exploration sector".[26]

Dirt TV awards

In 2014, SACOME launched Dirt TV, a competition to encourage school students in years 7 to 12 to produce short videos creatively promoting the resources sector. The inaugural award was won by high school students James Haskard and Daniel Blake of Concordia College. 14 entries were received and resource company sponsors provided a total prize pool of $10,000.[27]The competition ran from 2014 to 2016.

Council

SACOME is governed by an elected council that comprises leaders from within the South Australian mining and energy industry.

The Councillors for 2020 are:[28]

  • Greg Hall (Rex Minerals) – President
  • Matt Sherwell (Santos)
  • Gabrielle Iwanow (OZ Minerals)
  • Varis Lidums (Minotaur Exploration)
  • Sarah Clarke (Piper Alderman)
  • Nicholas Mumford (Mumford Commercial Consulting)
  • Laura Tyler (BHP)
  • Mark Dayman (FYFE)
  • Wendy Roxbee (Senex Energy)
  • Hamish Little (Iluka Resources)
  • Rebecca Knol (CEO, SACOME)

Past councils

2014:[29]

  • John Roberts – Mithril Resources (President)
  • Terry Burgess – OZ Minerals (Vice President)
  • Alice McCleary- Archer Exploration (Vice President)
  • Simon Parsons – IMX Resources
  • George McKenzie – Finlaysons
  • Guy Roberts – Penrice Soda Products
  • Mike Flynn – Santos Limited
  • David Cruickshanks-Boyd – Parsons Brinkerhoff
  • Terry Kallis – Petratherm
  • John McRae – Senex Energy
  • Darryl Cuzzubbo – BHP Billiton
  • Joe Ranford – Terramin
  • Andrew Stocks – Iron Road Ltd
  • Yvonne Green – Iluka Resources

2015:[30]

  • John Roberts – Mithril Resources (President)
  • Mike Flynn – Santos Limited (Vice President)
  • Yvonne Green – Iluka Resources (Vice President)
  • George McKenzie – Finlaysons
  • Darryl Cuzzubbo – BHP Billiton
  • Terry Kallis – Kallis & Co
  • Phil Cole – Senex Energy
  • Joe Ranford – Terramin
  • Andrew Stocks – Iron Road Ltd
  • Alison Snel – Flinders Port Holdings
  • Greg Hall – Hillgrove Resources
  • Patrick Mutz – Murray Zircon
  • Jonathon Glew – Gypsum Resources
  • Andrew Cole – OZ Minerals

2018:[31]

gollark: It's *pretty* tarpitty.
gollark: Command blocks are mostly just that but higher-level, I guess. They can't really adjust their own rules or whatever. Though what they can do does lead surprisingly often to crazy complex stuff.
gollark: It... seems an odd thing to do.
gollark: Why do you actually need to move sheep slightly more accurately anyway?
gollark: Well, it sounds like black magic and I have no idea how it would do that, soo...

References
  1. Peak mining body appoints new CEO InDaily, 22 September 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  2. "About Us". South Australian Chamber of Mines & Energy. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  3. "SA Mines and Energy Journal". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  4. "SACOME as you are". Informit. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  5. "SACOME snapshot". Informit. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  6. "State Election Journal". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  7. "2024 Vision". SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF MINES & ENERGY. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  8. England, Cameron (13 April 2011). "SACOME chief Jason Kuchel says failure in providing necessary port infrastructure". The Advertiser. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  9. Changerathil, Valerina (10 August 2012). "Detailed study of Port Bonython impact". The Advertiser. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  10. Opie, Rebecca (22 May 2014). "Working party says 'act now'". Whyalla News. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  11. Iron Road project approved for South Australia's Eyre Peninsula ABC News, 3 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  12. Brook, Barry (2012). "Nuclear series" (PDF). SA Mines & Energy Journal. South Australian Chamber of Mines & Energy. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  13. Validakis, Vicky (31 March 2014). "South Australians positive about nuclear power: SACOME". Mining Australia. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  14. "Industry members". South Australian Chamber of Mines & Energy. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  15. England, Cameron (31 March 2014). "Strong support for nuclear power in SA, resources lobby says". The Advertiser. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  16. Haxton, Nance (15 June 2011). "Mobile nuclear power plants for outback mines". PM. ABC. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  17. "SACOME chief executive resigns – Australian Mining". 20 July 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  18. Commission, Australian Competition and Consumer (17 May 2017). "ACCC allows SA businesses to jointly purchase electricity". Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  19. "SACOME Joint Electricity Purchasing Group awards long-term supply contract to Sanjeev Gupta's SIMEC ZEN Energy". SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF MINES & ENERGY. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  20. "SACOME Joint Electricity Purchasing Group awards long-term supply contract to Sanjeev Gupta's SIMEC ZEN Energy". SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF MINES & ENERGY. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  21. Division, Infrastructure. "Joy Baluch AM Bridge Duplication". dpti.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 12 August 2020. Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0 AU) license.
  22. https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=097106-17SA-NP
  23. Green, Amy (2 March 2020). "State government announces contractor for bridge duplication project". The Transcontinental. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  24. Australia, Premier of South (24 June 2020). "Successful exploration applicants announced". Premier of South Australia. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  25. corporateName=MER; contact=8226 3821; address=Level 4, 11 Waymouth Street. "Metadata.custom". www.energymining.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 18 August 2020.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. "SACOME welcomes successful Accelerated Discovery Initiative funding announcement". SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF MINES & ENERGY. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  27. Russell, Christopher (26 September 2014). "Cheeky mining video wins Concordia students inaugural SACOME Dirt TV award". Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  28. "Council". SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF MINES & ENERGY. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  29. "About Us > Council". South Australian Chamber of Mines & Energy. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  30. "About Us > Council". South Australian Chamber of Mines & Energy. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  31. "About Us". South Australian Chamber of Mines & Energy. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
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