The South Australian government is clearing the way for the second phase of the $916 million Carrapateena copper-gold project by granting a mining lease to Oz Minerals.

OZ has also received the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act approval for Carrapateena from the Federal Government.  The project, one of the largest mines being developed in Australia, is expected to create 1,000 jobs during construction. 

The company is already in the process of building infrastructure at the site, which will include a 550-accomodation village and an air strip.  After that, construction will commence on processing and above-ground infrastructure, including the processing plant, tailings storage facility, underground materials handling system, access roads and power lines.

Carrapateena is expected to reach production in the second half of next year.