BHP’s Olympic Dam mine expansion plans take a step forward
BHP’s plans to expand copper production at the Olympic Dam mine in SA will be assessed under new guidelines released by the state government today.
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Mining giant BHP’s plans to lift copper production at Olympic Dam by more than 70 per cent over the long term have inched forward with the state government releasing its assessment guidelines on the staged multi-billion dollar investment.
The assessment guidelines detail the social, environmental and economic issues BHP will need to address as part of the approvals process for any proposal.
The Olympic Dam mine, about 560 km north of Adelaide, has produced 124,000 tonnes of copper in the year to date, BHP said in its third quarter operational review.
BHP wants to increase it to up to 350,000 tonnes per annum as part of its Olympic Dam Resource Development Strategy.
The $3 billion project was granted Major Development status by the state government last year and is expected to support 1800 jobs in construction and 600 ongoing.
“The guidelines require BHP to examine the impacts of increased water extraction from the Great Artesian Basin including on the water resource, springs ecosystems and existing water users,” Mining Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan said. “It will also require BHP to assess the impacts of increased mining and processing on human health and the environment …”
BHP is currently undertaking studies to grow its copper production to between 240,000 and 300,000 tonnes per annum, which is the first stage, or the Brownfields Expansion (BFX) project. A management decision on whether the BFX project will go ahead is only expected in 2021.
“BHP will continue to work with the government on the rigorous assessment process that will underpin potential staged development options …,” Olympic Dam asset president Laura Tyler, pictured, said.