Quick Answer
Glencore is a Swiss-headquartered global mining and commodity trading company listed on the London Stock Exchange. In Australia it operates:
- Major coal mines across QLD and NSW — including Oaky Creek, Collinsville, Newlands, Ravensworth and Ulan
- Copper, zinc and nickel operations in QLD, NT and WA
- The Mount Isa Mines complex (copper, zinc, lead)
- A large Australian workforce of employees plus a Tier-1 contractor base for shutdowns, maintenance and services
Who Glencore is
Glencore plc is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland and listed on the LSE, JSE and Hong Kong Stock Exchange. It's one of the largest mining and commodity trading groups in the world, with Australian operations run through Glencore Australia Holdings Pty Limited. In coal, Glencore is one of the largest producers in Australia — a position that grew further after acquisitions in Queensland and New South Wales.
Glencore's Australian coal footprint
Glencore's Australian coal portfolio spans Queensland (Oaky Creek, Collinsville, Newlands, Rolleston, Clermont via joint ventures) and New South Wales (Ravensworth, Mangoola, Mount Owen, Ulan, Bulga, Liddell). It's a dominant presence in both the Bowen Basin and Hunter Valley.
Beyond coal: copper, zinc and nickel
Glencore also operates Mount Isa Mines (copper, zinc, lead), McArthur River Mine in the NT (zinc), CSA Mine in Cobar (copper), and the Murrin Murrin nickel-cobalt operation in WA — plus refining and smelting assets in Townsville, Mount Isa and Newcastle.
How Glencore engages contractors
Glencore uses a wide contractor base for shutdowns, longwall moves, mobile plant maintenance, civil works, drill-and-blast, and specialist trades. Most sites use a mix of resident contractors on rolling agreements and specialist contractors called in for shutdowns and campaign work.
Contractor compliance expectations
Working for Glencore means passing the generic Glencore induction, site-specific inductions per operation, MDG-standard training tickets, and typically one of the major contractor compliance platforms (Avetta, Rapid Global, Cm3 or Pegasus). Expect strict audit-ready record-keeping for training, medicals, plant and safety events.
What contractors should watch in 2026
Glencore continues to consolidate coal assets and is actively reviewing its portfolio (including consideration of a possible coal demerger). For contractors this means opportunities on newly integrated assets, but also volatility around mine reviews, restructures and shutdown scope.
Related reading: Glencore mines in QLD · How to work with Glencore · Glencore jobs and careers · Anglo American contractor guide · BMA contractor guide.
