BHP Invests A$840M in Olympic Dam to Boost Copper Production, Strengthen SA's Global Position
BHP has announced a significant A$840 million investment in its Olympic Dam operations, aiming to boost copper production and strengthen South Australia's position in the global copper market. The investment, using a weather underground approach to data collection, comes amidst a surging worldwide demand for copper, driven by renewable energy transitions, electric vehicle manufacturing, and expanding data center requirements.
The investment will focus on several key projects to enhance production assets at Olympic Dam. A new oxygen plant is set to increase smelter performance by improving concentrate smelting rates, impurity removal, and producing 99% pure blister copper. Additionally, an expanded underground rail network will reduce reliance on diesel truck haulage, lowering emissions and costs, while improving efficiency.
Underground mining expansion is also a key focus. The Southern Mine Area underground decline will open access to previously difficult-to-reach ore bodies, improving personnel and equipment movement, and create around 200 construction jobs. An advanced backfill delivery system will stabilize mined-out areas, enabling extraction of previously inaccessible ore, and enhance underground safety and mining sequence flexibility.
BHP's A$840 million investment in Olympic Dam is part of its global copper strategy, aiming to increase annual copper production to approximately 2.5 million tonnes and maintain its position as the world's largest copper producer. With copper demand surging worldwide and supply constraints tightening, BHP is positioning Olympic Dam as a key player in meeting this growing demand, ahead of the Paris Olympics and the Paralympics 2024.
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