Brisbane, Australia - Austral Resources Australia Ltd has delivered above-budget copper production for the December quarter, despite extreme wet-season weather impacting Northwest Queensland, underscoring the resilience of its operations and risk management strategy.
The copper producer reported Q4 copper output of 2,643 tonnes, exceeding both its internal budget and published guidance of 2,610 tonnes. December production alone exceeded 910 tonnes, marking the Company’s highest monthly copper output since its 2023 restructure.
Importantly, all personnel and contractors were safe and accounted for, with no environmental non-compliances recorded during the rainfall event.
Austral’s annual pre-wet season preparation and water-management strategy, implemented from 1 July each year, proved effective in mitigating operational disruption, even as December rainfall exceeded 415mm in parts of the region.
At the Company’s Lady Annie operation, processing activities remained uninterrupted throughout the weather event, delivering above-budget production. While wet-season conditions required short precautionary pauses to mining and haulage activities during unsafe periods, processing operations remained stable and productive.
Access to the Rocklands operation was temporarily unavailable due to flooding at Butchers Creek, with access expected to be restored shortly.
Austral also confirmed site supplies remain robust, with approximately 22 days of operational supplies currently on hand.
Austral’s Chairman, David Newling commented:
“Firstly, I want to acknowledge our incredible management and staff who have ensured our people and assets are protected and safeguarded during these extreme weather events.
You rarely get validated for risk mitigation measures, but our operational results prove that our systems and resilience is world-class, and we continue to go from strength to strength with our revised strategy.
I’m sure that whilst our operational results were a strong way to close out 2025, there is a bigger and better 2026 for Australia’s next mid-tier copper production powerhouse.”
Austral’s Chief Operating Officer, Shane O’Connell, commented:
“I want to recognise the leadership of our General Managers and the commitment of our site-based teams, whose preparation and execution during the recent rain event were exceptional. Their disciplined approach ensured the operation remained safe, protected critical assets and maintained operational integrity under challenging wet-season conditions.
The operation has endured multiple natural disaster events over the last few years, and in each instance, we have proactively identified and mitigated our exposures through robust systems, planning and on-site capability. These outcomes are the result of sustained investment in people and risk management, not circumstance.
The performance delivered through this event reinforces our confidence in the operation and provides a strong platform as we enter 2026, with the site’s well positioned to deliver reliable and consistent outcomes despite adverse conditions.”
Austral will provide further operational updates as part of its quarterly report, scheduled for release on 27 January 2026.
For more information, please visit https://www.australres.com
ENDS
About us:
About Austral Resources
Austral Resources Australia Ltd is an ASX listed copper cathode producer operating in the Mt Isa region, Queensland, Australia. Its Mt Kelly copper oxide heap leach and solvent extraction electrowinning (SX-EW) plant has a nameplate capacity of 30,000tpa of copper cathode. The recent acquisition of the Rocklands Facility enables the dual processing capabilities for copper sulphides and copper oxides, as well as an increased exposure to gold.
Austral has recently embarked on an aggressive growth and consolidation strategy across the World Class Mount Isa Region, which includes the Rocklands Deposit. Austral now owns a significant copper inventory with a JORC compliant Mineral Resource Estimate standing at 64 Mt @ 0.73% Cu (468,414t of contained copper) (comprising of 52.8Mt @ 0.74% Cu at the Lady Annie Project – 8.8Mt at 0.75% Cu Measured MRE, 33.0Mt at 0.76% Cu Indicated MRE and 11.0Mt at 0.69% Cu Inferred MRE and 11.26Mt @ 0.69% Cu at the Rocklands Project – 9.12Mt at 0.72% Cu Indicated MRE and 2.14Mt at 0.55% Cu Inferred MRE), two processing facilities, as well as 2,101km² of highly prospective exploration tenure in the heart of the Mt Isa district, a world class copper and base metals province.
The Company intends to implement an intensive exploration and development programme designed to extend the life of mine, increase its resource base and continually review options to commercialise its copper resources.
Contact details:
Jane Morgan
Investor and Media Relations
M +61 405 555 618
E [email protected]