Harmony Gold, South Africa’s largest gold producer and one of the most influential companies backed by billionaire Patrice Motsepe, has taken a major step toward transforming its future portfolio with a landmark investment in its Eva Copper Project in Queensland, Australia.
The company has purchased €55 million ($64.1 million) worth of state-of-the-art processing equipment from Finnish industrial powerhouse Metso, marking one of Australia’s biggest greenfield copper concentrator orders in more than ten years and signalling Harmony’s deepening commitment to future-facing metals.
The Eva Copper project is central to Harmony’s long-term strategy to move beyond gold and position itself in minerals critical to global electrification, including copper—an essential component in electric vehicles, power infrastructure, renewable energy technologies, and data centers.
By securing a comprehensive processing package from Metso, Harmony aims to fast-track construction and reduce early-stage operational risks, laying the groundwork for efficient, cost-effective production once the mine is operational.
Metso’s supply package is extensive and technologically advanced. It includes a 24MW gearless Premier SAG mill, an 18MW twin-pinion ball mill, MP800 cone crushers, 15 TankCell flotation units, a Vertimill VTM3000, and automated systems for slurry and particle-size analysis.
The order also comprises high-performance thickeners built with Metso’s water-saving Reactorwell technology and a fully automated Larox PF filter designed to deliver consistent, high-quality concentrate. Together, these components will form the backbone of Eva Copper’s processing plant and are expected to support strong, reliable output.
For Metso, a global leader in sustainable processing technologies, the deal expands its footprint in Australia’s mining sector while reinforcing its role in enabling lower-emission mineral production. For Harmony, the partnership goes beyond equipment procurement.
The two companies have signed a multi-year support agreement to ensure smooth commissioning, early operational stability, and reduced downtime during the mine’s critical first years. Metso will deploy on-site experts and provide continuous backup from its Australian service hubs, shortening ramp-up periods and strengthening long-term performance.
The investment also highlights the enduring influence of Patrice Motsepe in Harmony’s growth trajectory. Through African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), where he serves as executive chairman, Motsepe controls an 11.8 percent stake in the gold miner.
This relationship stems from a pivotal 2003 merger between ARM and Avmin, which helped set Harmony on the path to becoming one of Africa’s most important mining companies. With Harmony’s production guidance for FY2025 set at 1.4 million to 1.5 million ounces and its cost structure holding steady, the company is increasingly shifting toward a diversified metals profile.
As copper demand surges globally and supply struggles to keep pace, the Eva project gives Harmony a strategic entry into a commodity expected to define industrial growth over the next decade. The $64 million equipment investment signals a clear ambition: Harmony is not only preserving its legacy as a leading gold producer but actively reshaping itself into a multi-metal powerhouse ready to compete in the electrified economy of the future.
