PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Diversified miner BHP will partner with two of China’s leading copper producers, China Copper and Daye Nonferrous, on the development of a more sustainable and responsible copper value chain.

The three companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enable the parties to leverage their expertise in exploring opportunities to reduce the environmental footprint and improve materials and energy efficiency and manage waste streams in copper production.

The non-exclusive nature of the proposed collaboration aims to enable further, similar partnerships with industry peers and downstream users. 

BHP said in a statement that through the collaboration, the parties plan to explore opportunities to share insights and jointly collaborate to seek to develop technology and innovations for copper smelting and refining, such as use of low-carbon emission fuels, improved heat and energy efficiency, lower intensity reuse and recycling of by-products such as slag, dust, waste water and acid, digitalisation of copper value chain processes, and exploring ways to improve traceability along the copper value chain that aims to enhance measurement, verification and reporting.

“Copper demand is expected to increase significantly to support the megatrends of decarbonisation and electrification. While BHP supplies the growing market, it is equally important for us to do so in a more sustainable and responsible way, and collaboration with key industry value chain partners plays a vital role,”  BHP chief commercial officer Vandita Pant said.

“As two of the leading copper producers globally, China Copper and Daye Nonferrous are actively pursuing initiatives that aim to support China’s sustainable development and decarbonisation goals. BHP is proud to be a part of this collaboration and believes our joint efforts will expedite the course towards more sustainable and responsible supply of copper to support the world’s energy transition.” 

China Copper chairman Xu Bo said China had reaffirmed its commitment to green and low-carbon growth and highlighted the importance of corporate partnerships’ role in achieving the “dual carbon” goals.

“China Copper has been committed to working with upstream and downstream companies along the industrial chain to promote coordination and innovation for carbon reduction. Leveraging lower-carbon, and energy-conserving practices, China Copper has led various dual-carbon initiatives to achieve the common vision of building a beautiful community.

“Today’s MoU signing on ‘collaboration in copper value chain’ will increase the depth and breadth of cooperation between the two companies, which will give impetus to China Copper’s efforts to achieve more sustainable, high-quality growth. In the future, China Copper will continue to explore opportunities for exchange and accelerate cooperation in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and building a more sustainable copper value chain.”