[SMM Flash News] NSW Approves RZ Resources’ A$693 Million Copi Critical Minerals Project
Australia’s New South Wales state has officially approved RZ Resources’ A$693 million ($497 million) Copi mineral sands mine project. Located 75 km northwest of Wentworth, the mine holds one of the world's largest critical minerals deposits and is expected to produce up to 400,000 tonnes of critical mineral ore annually—including titanium minerals, premium zircon, and rare earth elements—for an 18-year lifespan. Backed by governments including the US, Japan, India, and Australia, and featuring strategic investments from Japan’s JX Advanced Metals Corporation and Marubeni, the approval clears a pathway to first production in early 2029.