The Kanmantoo copper-gold mine in the Adelaide Hills will reopen in 2022, providing 170 new jobs in the area. At the same time, the mine has successfully used revolutionary and disruptive mining technologies to significantly reduce emissions.

"Hillgrove Resources' decision to reopen the Kanmantoo copper and gold mine will once again boost South Australia's booming economy and our reputation as an international leader in the use of cutting-edge renewable technologies," said Lieutenant Governor Dan van Holst Pellekaan.

Hillgrove Resources' test of Komatsu "MC51 continuous miner" is the largest of its kind in Australia. The machine uses DynaCut mechanical cutting technology instead of the traditional drilling and blasting technology used in mine development. Komatsu MC51 allows continuous excavation of hard rock and eliminates operation delays caused by blasting, making the technology safer, faster, and more cost-effective.

The $2 million grant provided by the Marshall government promoted the use of MC51 for underground mining at the Kanmantoo mine, thereby promoting the potential opening of the mine.

Crucially, as South Australia achieves 100% renewable energy net power generation by 2030, continuous mining machines are driven entirely by electricity and are the promoters of green copper production and low-emission mining.

Lachlan Wallace, CEO of Hillgrove Resources said:

"For Hillgrove, this is a very exciting time. This year we have achieved excellent drilling results-copper mineralization extends at least 500m at the bottom of the open pit and remains open deep. It is vital. Yes, we also have the perfect infrastructure to take advantage of this opportunity and start mining in 2022. This experiment, funded by the South Australian Government, will further accelerate this process."

"We are also proud of the steps we are taking to develop innovative methods for ultra-efficient mining and drastically reducing emissions. Our successful MC51 test in Kanmantoo clearly demonstrates our Australian and global leadership in this area."

Hammond member Adrian Pederick welcomed Kanmantoo's next phase of mining, which will bring employment and other benefits to the local area.

"The $2 million investment by the Marshall Liberal government is part of the approximately $200 million invested in Hammond since March 2018," Adrian Pedric said.

Hillgrove is at the forefront of achieving emissions-free mining in Australia and is exploring further on-site electrification opportunities, such as transportation, as the company prepares to start underground operations.

MC51 has created an entrance to Hillgrove's completed open-pit mine site, and will develop a 500m underground slope and multiple underground drilling platforms to continue exploring copper and gold mineralization. After the test, the underground slope will be used as a mine passage for copper and gold veins and mining.

The new underground mining technology was developed in Australia by Komatsu Limited ("Komatsu"), a global manufacturer and distributor of earthwork and mining equipment. Komatsu MC51 continuous mining machine uses Komatsu's DynaCut mechanical cutting technology.

Hillgrove Resources Limited (ASX: HGO) is an Australian resources company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, which owns and operates the Kanmantoo copper and gold mine in South Australia.

The company has been operating in South Australia for 18 years and has accumulated rich operating experience and award-winning active stakeholder participation.

From 2011 to 2020, Hillgrove Resources mined a series of open-pit mines in Kanmantoo, producing 137,000 tons of copper and 55,000 ounces of gold. Since the existing infrastructure is already in place, the Kanmantoo underground project is expected to start production in 2022 with relatively low capital investment.

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