BHP plans a major, multibillion-dollar underground expansion at its Olympic Dam copper mine in South Australia. The project would use block-cave mining, a method for extracting large, lower-grade ore bodies at lower cost.
BHP reported a new block-cave mineral resource of 10.73 billion tonnes, adding substantially to the mine’s existing underground resource. The expansion supports the company’s goal of producing around 500,000 tonnes of copper annually in South Australia by 2035.
Studies are in the early stages, and BHP has not set a firm development timeline. The project reflects the company’s strategic focus on copper, which it views as critical to the global shift towards renewable energy and electrification.