Adelaide has ambitious plans to become one of the world’s first carbon neutral cities and an international leader in environmental change. With the world-wide focus on renewable resources, such as solar and wind energy, the demand for lithium is increasing. Today it’s nearly 3 times greater than it was in January 2014 and this growth trend is expected to continue. With South Australia’s untapped resources, Adelaide is well placed to benefit and make its plans a reality.
In the non-renewable arena of oil and natural gas, South Australia is rated in the world’s top 3 most attractive places for investment (Fraser Institute, December 2017). There are minimal bans or moratoria on gas exploration and development in the region, and with the current strengthening world-wide recovery in economic activity, and optimistic future forecasts driving up commodity prices, attention is refocusing on exploration. Increased oil and gas exploration in the Cooper Basin reflects the recent rise in prices.
A major mining project is also on the horizon in South Australia – BHP is considering a possible AUS$ 2.8 billion expansion of its Olympic Dam mine. The combination of grade and scale makes it a unique resource, and the amount of ore is already well defined. The project is currently in the study phase and is targeted to begin in late 2021 if it goes ahead.
These projects will all need human capital, experienced procurement specialists, supply chain managers, project managers, contract and procurement advisors, and human resource specialists to bring them to fruition. Recently, Adelaide recorded its lowest population growth figure in more than a decade, growing by just 0.7% and is on a trajectory to fall short of its population growth target. This coupled with an aging population and increased mobility of young South Australians means there will undoubtedly be a need to bring in expertise to execute the projects.
Rowe Advisory recently developed an operating model for a client that accesses talent in a flexible and virtual environment. This allows teams to be created and deployed very quickly. With a more mobile work force, a millennial generation who have grown-up in the digital age and where time is of the essence – a different way of thinking will be required to successfully execute both operational and capital projects.
Rowe Advisory can help, our team has vast industry experience, and can provide the necessary skills and knowledge to meet your resourcing needs. Contact Jody Rowe or Richard Peasgood