BHP investing to boost Olympic Dam operations

01 October 2025

BHP is investing over A$840 million in a series of growth-enabling projects at Olympic Dam, to strengthen the foundations of underground mining productivity and continue building its world-class copper province in the far north of South Australia.

The investment is funding several key projects:

• An underground access tunnel (known as a decline) into the Southern Mine Area, providing access to a new section of the resource.

• A new backfill system to deliver paste fill via underground pipes to new areas of the mine.

• Expansion of ore pass capacity, streamlining ore handling and reducing haulage distances, supported by new locomotives and an extended underground electric rail network.

• Installation of a new oxygen plant to improve smelter performance and support increased copper processing capability.

Together, these projects and those underway elsewhere across Copper SA will improve efficiency and support future growth options of South Australia's copper province, reinforcing the state's role as a globally significant supplier.

The Southern Mine Area decline will improve access to the underground mine and streamline the transportation of materials and equipment. The project is expected to create nearly 200 construction jobs throughout the project development.

A new backfill delivery system will improve how mined areas are stabilised. The system will deliver cement paste fill directly through an underground pipe network, allowing access to previously inaccessible ore sections.

Olympic Dam is expanding its underground electric rail network from 4.85 kilometres to more than 6 kilometres, supported by 6 new locomotives. The ore pass capacity project will streamline materials handling in the Southern Mine Area, reducing truck haulage and improving safety and efficiency.

The new oxygen plant will support the smelter's debottlenecking program, increasing copper concentrate smelting rates from 80 to 85 tonnes per hour. Oxygen plays a key role in the smelting process, helping to separate and remove the sulphur and iron impurities to produce blister copper at 99% purity. This is then cast into copper anodes and refined into final products including copper cathode, gold, and silver.

Edgar Basto, COO, BHP

"BHP is the largest producer of copper in the world, and we expect to grow our copper base from 1.7 million tonnes to around 2.5 million tonnes per annum. Achieving that scale requires significant copper growth, and we are fortunate to have a world-class copper province right here in South Australia to do just that."

"The South Australian copper province is already performing strongly, consistently delivering more than 300,000 tonnes a year for the past three years. We are progressing a series of strategic projects that will strengthen our base business and help lay the foundations for future growth."

Anna Wiley, BHP Asset President Copper SA

"Copper SA is a globally significant province, and BHP's continued investment is a clear signal of our long-term commitment to its development. These investments strengthen the foundations for future growth - creating jobs, boosting local business opportunities, and driving greater operational efficiency across our sites."

"We are standing at the edge of a generational opportunity to unlock transformational copper growth in South Australia. By continuing to work together across government and industry, we can capture that opportunity and achieve our shared vision to increase Australian copper production."

"Copper SA is already on the global map, and as the race intensifies to secure copper for the energy transition and growth in data centres, we are well positioned to supply more of what the world needs."

Minister Don Farrell

"BHP has been a cornerstone of South Australia's economy for decades, supporting thousands of jobs and local businesses who supply their sites, and this investment in the future of Copper SA means that it will continue to be for many years to come."

"Australia is at the forefront of the energy transition in which copper is a vital resource and by securing the continued flow of copper from Olympic Dam, BHP is ensuring South Australia's position as a key global supplier."

Premier Peter Malinauskas

"There is no zero-emissions future without reliable, accessible supplies of high-quality copper. Copper is key to the electrification of transport fleets, for building renewable energy infrastructure, and for energy generation, distribution, and storage."

"South Australia is at the epicentre of copper. BHP realises that, which is why it investing billions of dollars in South Australia, to unlock the next massive copper opportunity - and it starts with massively growing Olympic Dam."

"The ambition more broadly in the Copper province is clear - doubling current production, supporting thousands of new jobs, and developing a two-stage smelter.

"To get there, we'll need more water, which is why the State Government is working in close partnership with BHP to closely examine the Northern Water Project.

About Copper SA

BHP's Copper SA asset is a world-class copper province in the far north of South Australia. Copper SA has three underground mines at Olympic Dam, Prominent Hill and Carrapateena, which feed a centralised smelter and refinery at Olympic Dam. There is also an exploration project at Oak Dam, which could be a future fourth mine in the province.

Copper SA has a workforce of about 8,000 people (including onsite contractors) and last financial year produced 316,000 tonnes of copper. The world needs more copper, with global demand projected to grow 70% by 2050 driven by population growth, rising living standards, and the energy transition. This presents a generational opportunity for South Australia, which is home to two thirds of Australia's copper resources - some of the finest copper resources in the world.

BHP holds the world's largest copper resources with Escondida and Copper SA. In FY25, BHP produced more than two million tonnes of copper for the first time.