Page 271 - Annual Report 2020

6.2 Information on mining operations

Minerals Australia Strategic Report
Copper mining operations
The following table contains additional details of our mining operations. This table should be read in conjunction with the production table
(refer to section 6.3.1) and reserves table (refer to section 6.4.2).
Mine & Means Title, leases Mine type & Facilities,
location of access Ownership Operator or options History mineralisation style Power source use & condition
Olympic Dam
560 km Public road BHP 100% BHP Mining lease Acquired in Underground Electricity Underground
northwest Copper granted by 2005 as part of Large poly-metallic transmitted via automated train and
of Adelaide, cathode South Australian Western Mining deposit of iron (i) BHP’s 275 kV trucking network
South trucked Government Corporation oxide-copper- power line from feeding crushing, Governance at BHP
Australia to ports expires in 2036 (WMC) uranium-gold Port Augusta and storage and ore
Uranium oxide Right of acquisition mineralisation (ii) ElectraNet’s hoisting facilities
transported by extension Copper system upstream 2 grinding circuits
road to ports for 50 years production of Port Augusta Nominal milling
(subject to began in 1988 Energy capacity: 10.3 Mtpa
remaining Nominal milling purchased Flash furnace
mine life) capacity raised via Retail produces copper
to 9 Mtpa Agreement anodes, then
in 1999 refined to produce
Optimisation copper cathodes
project Electrowon copper
completed cathode and uranium
in 2002 oxide concentrate
New copper produced by leaching Remuneration Report
solvent and solvent extracting
extraction plant flotation tailings
commissioned
in 2004
Major smelter
maintenance
campaign
completed
in 2018
Iron ore mining operations Directors’ Report
The following table contains additional details of our iron ore mining operations. This table should be read in conjunction with the
production table (refer to section 6.3.1) and reserves table (refer to section 6.4.2).
Mine & Means Title, leases Mine type & Facilities,
location of access Ownership Operator or options History mineralisation style Power source use & condition
WAIO
Mt Newman joint venture
Pilbara region, Private road BHP 85% BHP Mineral lease Production Open-cut Power for all mine Newman Hub:
Western Ore transported Mitsui-ITOCHU granted and began at Bedded ore types operations in primary crusher,
Australia by Mt Newman Iron 10% held under Mt Whaleback classified as per the Central and ore handling plant,
Mt Whaleback JV-owned ITOCHU Minerals the Iron Ore in 1969 host Archaean Eastern Pilbara heavy media
Orebodies 18, rail to and Energy of (Mount Newman) Production or Proterozoic is supplied by beneficiation plant, Financial Statements
24, 25, 29, 30, Port Hedland Australia 5% Agreement Act from Orebodies iron formation, BHP’s natural stockyard blending
31, 32 and 35 (427 km) 1964 expires in 18, 24, 25, which are gas fired Yarnima facility, single cell
2030 with right 29, 30, 31, Brockman and power station rotary car dumper,
to successive 32 and 35 Marra Mamba Power consumed train load out
renewals of complements in port operations (nominal capacity
21 years each production is supplied via 75 Mtpa)
from Mt a contract Orebody 25 Ore
Whaleback with Alinta processing plant
Production (nominal capacity 6
from Orebodies 12 Mtpa)
31 and 32
started in 2015
and 2017
respectively
Yandi joint venture
Pilbara region, Private road BHP 85% BHP Mining lease Production Open-cut Power for all mine 3 primary crushers, Additional information
Western Ore transported ITOCHU Minerals granted pursuant began at the Channel Iron operations in 3 ore handling plants,
Australia by Mt Newman and Energy to the Iron Ore Yandi mine Deposits are the Central and stockyard blending
JV-owned rail of Australia 8% (Marillana Creek) in 1992 Cainozoic fluvial Eastern Pilbara facility, and 2 train
to Port Hedland Mitsui Iron Ore Agreement Act Capacity sediments is supplied by load outs (nominal
(316 km) Corporation 7% 1991 expires of Yandi hub BHP’s natural capacity 80 Mtpa)
Yandi JV’s in 2033 with expanded gas fired Yarnima
railway spur 1 renewal right between power station
links Yandi hub to a further 1994 and 2013 Power consumed
to Mt Newman 21 years to 2054 in port operations
JV main line is supplied Shareholder information
via a contract
with Alinta

BHP Annual Report 2020 269