BHP takes next step in Olympic Dam expansion

The South Australian Government has announced the start of an application and assessment process for BHP’s (ASX: BHP) planned smelter and refinery expansion at Olympic Dam.

This marks a step forward for BHP’s copper growth plans in South Australia and follows the company’s FY24 results which outlined a phased strategy to increase production in South Australia to 500kt of refined copper cathode by the early 2030s.

BHP asset president copper South Australia Anna Wiley commented on the news.

“Today’s announcement is an important step for BHP and the South Australian Government as we work together towards our shared ambition to significantly increase copper production in this state,” she said.

“We are already growing BHP’s copper production in South Australia with projects and studies underway at all of our operating sites, and we’re moving at pace to potentially double our current production by the middle of next decade.”

BHP’s South Australian copper assets comprise of the Olympic Dam, Prominent Hill and Carrapateena underground mines.

A final investment decision on phase one of the smelter and refinery expansion is scheduled for the first half of FY27.