Another step forward in BHP’s South Australian growth plans with award of design and supply contract

Nerin is one of China’s leading metallurgical engineering design institutes and has experience working on smelting complexes around the world, including the construction of seven large modern copper smelters in recent years.

The contract, valued at over AUS$200 million, will be executed in separate stages as BHP advances through study phases and toward a potential final investment decision on the smelter and refinery expansion in 2027.

The supply portion of the agreement is contingent upon BHP approving the final investment decision on the smelter and refinery expansion. Olympic Dam’s smelter and refinery complex is at the heart of South Australia’s copper province, and the expansion project would support BHP’s ambition to grow production out of South Australia to 500 000 tpy through the 2030s, and potentially up to 650 000 tpy by the end of the decade.

BHP already has more than AUS$2 billion of projects in execution today to build the Copper SA province, including a 1.3 km deep haul shaft at Prominent Hill and the new Southern Mine Area underground access tunnel at Olympic Dam.

Anna Wiley, Asset President Copper South Australia, BHP, commented: “BHP is building momentum in South Australia, and this contract award marks another important step in our plans to increase copper production here.

“Copper South Australia is a globally significant province and we are working at pace to unlock its full potential and supply more of the copper the world needs.”

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/finance-business/09072026/another-step-forward-in-bhps-south-australian-growth-plans-with-award-of-design-and-supply-contract/