PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Diversified miner BHP’s Covid support for regional communities has now reached the A$50-million benchmark set in March of last year, when the company’s Vital Resources Fund was established.
The fund was established to contribute to the immediate needs of communities facing impacts from the pandemic, and then to help organisations and local businesses participate in economic recovery.
BHP president minerals Australia Edgar Basto said the Vital Resources Fund had delivered assistance to 89 organisations, reaching more than 700 000 people including 140 000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“The resilience and determination of businesses, organisations, towns and families across regional Australia in the face of national crisis has been incredible and humbling. BHP is proud that we were able to do our part in supporting the very communities that support us. From everything we’ve seen, the communities where we operate are well positioned to lead Australia toward economic recovery,” Basto said.
In total, the Fund has provided A$6.1-million to national projects supporting the regions in which it operates, and more than A$18.1-million to the communities in Queensland and New South Wales, a further A$4.6-million in South Australia, and A$19.4-million in Western Australia.
An additional A$1.6-million has been used to source and purchase medical personal protective equipment and other hygiene supplies.
The miner also introduced a number of other relief measures, including reduced payment terms for small suppliers to provide critical cash flow during the pandemic peak; hiring an additional 1 500 people on six-month contracts to support its Australian operations; and creating a A$6-million fund to support labour hire companies and their employees.