South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy


The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy is a not-for-profit, non-government organisation founded in 1979. It represents approximately 130 companies involved in resource extraction and supporting service industries in South Australia.
The organisation has published a number of periodicals including the SA Mines and Energy journal, has been the subject of several feature articles in the resources sector magazine Australia's Paydirt, and released SACOME Priorities: State Election 2018 and 2024 Vision for the Resources Sector.
WWW sacome.org.au𝕏 mining_energysa

Advocacy

Port Bonython

SACOME believes that the growth of iron ore mining in South Australia has been limited by the state's lack of bulk commodities port infrastructure. In 2011, SACOME's CEO Jason Kuchel publicly supported the chosen location for a future 3 km iron ore export wharf at Port Bonython, northeast of Whyalla in South Australia's upper Spencer Gulf region. The location is controversial due to its close proximity to breeding reef for the Northern Spencer Gulf population of giant Australian cuttlefish. The proposed port's potential environmental impact has been challenged by community groups including Save Point Lowly and the Alternative Port Working Party.
Since then other locations have been considered including the Iron Road Limited proposal at Cape Hardy on the Eyre Peninsula.

Nuclear power

SACOME supports the future development of nuclear power in South Australia. Among its members are several companies actively involved in uranium mining and exploration. These include BHP, Areva Resources Australia, Heathgate Resources and Uranium SA. In 2014, SACOME's Chief Executive at the time, Jason Kuchel, believed that small modular nuclear reactors could potentially provide energy to remote resources projects, including at mine sites. Kuchel's advocacy was acknowledged by Australian Mining magazine as having influenced the establishment of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission in 2016.

Joint electricity purchasing group

SACOME established an electricity buying group of 27 South Australian businesses in 2017 to secure reliable electricity supply arrangements for its members at competitive prices. On 8 June 2018, an eight-year supply contract was signed with renewable energy retailer SIMEC ZEN Energy.

Dirt TV awards

In 2014, SACOME launched Dirt TV, a competition to encourage school students in years 7 to 12 to produce short videos creatively promoting the resources sector. The inaugural award was won by high school students James Haskard and Daniel Blake of Concordia College. 14 entries were received and resource company sponsors provided a total prize pool of $10,000. The competition ran from 2014 to 2016.

Council

SACOME is governed by an elected council that comprises leaders from within the South Australian mining and energy industry.
The Councillors for 2025 are:
  • Carl Kavina – President
  • Jo Jones – Vice President
  • Andrew Dyda – Vice President
  • Joe De Gennaro
  • Bill Ovenden
  • Nicola Buley
  • Greg Swain
  • Tracey Winters
  • Adam Sanderson
  • Eric Bardy
  • Rebecca Knol

Past councils

2014:
2015:
2018:
2020:
  • Greg Hall – President
  • Matt Sherwell
  • Gabrielle Iwanow
  • Varis Lidums
  • Sarah Clarke
  • Nicholas Mumford
  • Laura Tyler
  • Mark Dayman
  • Wendy Roxbee
  • Hamish Little
  • Rebecca Knol