Name of the Project
Carrapateena block cave expansion.

Location
Gawler Craton, South Australia.

Project Owner/s
BHP. The project was acquired from OZ Minerals in May 2023.

Project Description
Carrapateena is an underground copper, gold and silver mine. The mine uses sublevel caving extraction methods, with conventional crushing, grinding and flotation producing copper concentrate.

BHP is investing in processing plant capacity to allow for an uplift in throughput from the sublevel cave to seven-million tonnes a year. 

The block cave expansion project is progressing through the underground development of the access and conveyor decline below the existing sublevel cave. The project is expected to extend the mine life beyond the existing sublevel cave and increase throughput at Carrapateena up to 12-million tonnes a year.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The Block Cave 1 and 2 expansion is estimated to result in the net present value of the project increasing from A$600-million to A$770-million at a final investment decision in 2023, with an internal rate of return of 19%, after tax.

Capital Expenditure
Capital expenditure for both block caves is estimated at between A$1.2-billion and A$1.3-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
The project will ramp up from the 2029 financial year.

Latest Developments
The commissioning of Crusher 2 has supported higher productivity from the sublevel cave and BHP is continuing to invest in processing plant capacity to enable an uplift in throughput to seven-million tonnes a year. 

On September 7, 2026, BHP awarded Worley contracts to provide study and engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services for the potential expansion of the underground operations and processing infrastructure. The project remains subject to a final investment decision by BHP.

Initial EPCM services have started for early-phase activities. Worley’s scope spans underground mining, processing and infrastructure across the cave-to-concentrate programme, including targeted expansions of materials-handling and concentrating facilities.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Worley (EPCM services for the potential expansion of underground operations and processing infrastructure).

Contact Details for Project Information
BHP, tel +61 3 9609 3333.