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GEMCO

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Located on an island in Australia's Gulf of Carpentaria, Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO), produces high-grade manganese ore.

 

GEMCO

Rowell Highway, Alyangula
Groote Eylandt, 0885
Northern Territory
Australia

Key statistics

2,324 KWMT

FY24 Manganese ore production

US$1.0m

FY24 investment in local communities

Our operations

Located on the island of Groote Eylandt, in the Gulf of Carpentaria in Australia’s Northern Territory, Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO) is an open-cut, strip-mining operation that produces high grade manganese ore.

Close to export markets in Asia, the GEMCO mine is one of the largest manganese ore producers in the world.

South32 owns 60 per cent of GEMCO, with the remaining 40 per cent held by Anglo American Plc.

Partnering with communities

Partnering with communities

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 Groote Eylandt predicted to have some of the highest rates of people living with Machado Joseph Disease (MJD), a genetic, neurodegenerative disease.

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.

Learn more about how South32 supports local communities

Our stories

International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples

GEMCO has partnered with a local Indigenous and Traditional Owner businesses to help transform lives.

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Biosecurity program on Groote Eylandt wins national award

Our GEMCO team, in partnership with the Anindilyakwa Land Council recently won an Australian Biosecurity Award in the category Best Environmental Biosecurity program.

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Mary Coulter accepts award

From counterhand to award-winning electrical apprentice – meet Mary Coulter

Congratulations to Mary Coulter, Electrical Maintenance Technician at GEMCO, who was recently named Austin Asche Apprentice of the Year at the 2022 Northern Territory Government Training Awards.

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Our commodities

 

Manganese

Manganese

GEMCO is one of the world’s largest producers of high-grade manganese ore.

Manganese is a transition metal used in a wide range of industrial alloys.

The metal is commonly used to improve the quality and strength of steel in major infrastructure such as hospitals, office towers and bridges.

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Southern Lease Mining Project

GEMCO is proposing to extend the life of its manganese mine on Groote Eylandt by developing the Southern Lease Mining Project.

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  • Robyn Ryan

    Vice President Operations, GEMCO

    Robyn Ryan is a fifth-generation miner and proud Territorian, currently serving as Vice President Operations at GEMCO. 

    Robyn joined South32 in 2023, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in the mining industry, including senior leadership positions and consulting roles alongside some of the industry’s most prominent organisations. Her expertise spans manganese, gold, copper, and coal operations across Australia and around the world.

    Throughout her career, Robyn has partnered with leaders to drive cultural and operational change enhancing performance, capability, and long-term business success.

    Her leadership ethos is built on trust, innovation, and unwavering commitment to safety. She is passionate about cultivating environments where people feel safe, valued, and empowered to embrace continuous improvement.

Contact

Rowell Highway Alyangula, Groote Eylandt NT 0885

Vinje Randall, External Affairs

Email: [email protected] Phone: 1800 870 766

Document library

Find important documents and publications relating to GEMCO.

GEMCO Documents