BHP Moves Forward with Olympic Dam Smelter Expansion in Australia

BHP

Company Begins Application Process for Significant Copper Production Boost

On August 30, Australian mining giant BHP announced the initiation of an application and assessment process for its planned expansion of the Olympic Dam smelter and refinery in South Australia. This expansion aims to enhance copper production capabilities at the site, which currently processes copper concentrate from the Olympic Dam, Prominent Hill, and Carrapateena mines. In the fiscal year ending June 30, the South Australian operations achieved a record cathode production of 215,700 tons.

BHP is set to make a final investment decision on the first phase of the expansion by mid-2027. The company plans to increase its copper output by 4% in the 2025 financial year through higher-grade ores at its Escondida mine in Chile and overall asset productivity improvements. Future growth prospects include significant expansions across Chilean facilities, with investment decisions expected between 2026 and 2029. BHP also targets increasing South Australian copper production to 500,000 tons annually by the early 2030s and 650,000 tons by the mid-2030s.