JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Diversified giant BHP Billiton on Friday reported that an incident at its Olympic Dam uranium and copper mine, in South Australia, had ‘significantly’ damaged operating equipment at the Clark Shaft haulage system, which was responsible for around 75% of the mine's ore production.

Repair work to the damaged equipment was well advanced with the removal of the haulage system's winder, which would be sent for repairs to Whyalla next week.

In addition, temporary equipment, which would allow repair work to start inside the Clark Shaft, would be commissioned on November 18.

Ore production was continuing through the secondary Whenan Shaft, which was hoisting about 25% of production and trials on trucking some ore to the surface through the existing decline would begin soon.

The diversified miner said in a statement that the temporary closure of the Clark Shaft has enabled the company to bring forward significant maintenance work originally scheduled for the 2010 calendar year, including a major smelter reline. The rescheduled maintenance work is set to begin on November 16, and would run until mid-January.

While the temporary loss of the Clark Shaft would impact contractor numbers at the site, this would be largely offset by new contractors coming on-site for the smelter maintenance work.

BHP stated that, consistent with statements in the company's quarterly production report last month, a return to full production was expected no later than the third quarter of 2010.