Who we are
Our purpose is to make a difference by developing natural resources, improving people's lives now and for generations to come. We are trusted by our owners and partners to realise the potential of their resources.
Our business
- Australia
- Southern Africa
- South America
  - Brazil Alumina
  - Cerro Matoso
- Exploration & projects
- Marketing
- Our commodities
South32 is a globally diversified mining and metals company producing bauxite, alumina, aluminium, energy and metallurgical coal, manganese, nickel, silver, lead and zinc in Australia, Southern Africa and South America.
Community & society
We’re a business with a purpose and believe trust and transparency are essential to the way we operate. That means being in touch with the broader community – considering different perspectives and working together to create shared value.
Environment
We work hard to be responsible stewards of the environment and treat natural resources with care so that they are available for future generations. Successful environmental management is essential to our business.
People & careers
Our people are the foundation of our success and the key to our sustainability and productivity. Together, we create an inclusive workplace where we hold ourselves and each other to account to demonstrate our values.
Investors & media
- Investor centre
- Media centre
Keep up to date with our latest news and announcements.

History and location

Few other mines have a location quite like our Northern Territory manganese mine, on the island of Groote Eylandt, next to the pristine waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria in Australia’s north.

We have a long history on Groote Eylandt, with mining starting here more than half a century ago and a processing plant commissioned on the island not long after. Since then the plant has gone through several expansions, with the most recent one completed in 2013.

Below ground

GEMCO is an open-cut mining operation, producing high-grade manganese ore that is shipped to our Tasmanian manganese alloy plant and around the world.

It is currently the largest and lowest-cost manganese ore producer in the world, which we hold a 60 per cent share in, with Anglo America Plc holding the remaining 40 per cent.

Manganese

Supporting Indigenous communities

We're helping to provide a better quality of life for Indigenous Australians and their families living with Machado Joseph Disease.

Playing our part

Groote Eylandt is home to the Anindilyakwa people, who are the traditional owners of the land. We have aligned our community investments with the Traditional Owners, working to improve opportunities for local people.

Education is a priority for people on the island so we are partnering with the Graham Polly Farmer Foundation to support school-aged children on Groote Eylandt to improve their literacy and numeracy skills.

The health of local people is also a major concern, with the genetic, neurodegerative disease Machado Joseph Disease (MJD) predicted to have some of the highest rates of people living with the disease on Groote Eylandt, than anywhere else in the world.

We have supported the MJD Foundation to improve quality of life for Indigenous Australians living with the disease. This has included new equipment and services like physiotherapy delivered ‘On Country’, aimed at slowing the disease’s progression.

Partnering with Bush Medijina

GEMCO has partnered with a local Indigenous business to help transform lives.

Celebrating NAIDOC Week

Our Australian operations have celebrated the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH AT WORK

Providing education and raising awareness of mental health and associated mental health conditions.

Contact

Get in touch with GEMCO

Ryan Kleinschmidt

Ryan Kleinschmidt, Acting Vice President Operations

Ryan is an experienced operations leader having worked at GEMCO in senior roles since 2013. Growing up in Australia's Central Queensland, Ryan worked extensively in the coalfields prior to joining South32. He has an Honours Degree in Electrical Engineering and 25 years of experience across production and maintenance roles in the resources industry. Ryan is passionate about continuously improving how we operate to deliver safe production, and supporting the communities of Groote Eylandt.

Liam Stower, Corporate Affairs

GEMCO
Rowell Highway, Alyangula
Groote Eylandt, 0885
Northern Territory
Australia
Phone: 1800 870 766

Email: [email protected]