Name of the Project
Olympic Dam production growth plan.

Location
South Australia.

Client
BHP.

Project Description
Olympic Dam is one of the world’s largest orebodies, with the world’s largest deposits of copper, gold and uranium, as well as significant deposits of silver.

The project proposes to increase the mining and production of copper and associated products from 200 000 t/y to up to 350 000 t/y.

Potential Job Creation
BHP’s proposal could potentially create up to 1 800 construction jobs, with an additional 600 jobs in ongoing positions in operational roles.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Value
The proposed expansion will cost about A$3.3-billion to implement.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
BHP has indicated that it will not proceed with the brownfield expansion project at its Olympic Dam mine, saying that the project's economics have encountered “challenges”.

BHP has said that it has completed more than 400 km of underground drilling associated with the project studies and that it now has a better understanding of the orebody’s variability.

“We have decided the optimal way forward for now is through targeted debottlenecking investments, plant upgrades and modernisation of our infrastructure,” the company has said.

Over the next two years, its focus will remain on completing its asset integrity programme, which will underpin more stable operations and expected copper production of more than 200 000 t/y.

“The long-term opportunity for Olympic Dam is unchanged, with our enhanced understanding of the resource in the Southern Mine Area and the promising results from Oak Dam providing a strong foundation for unlocking the full growth potential of this asset.”

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

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