Page 274 - Annual Report 2020

Nickel 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 of Title, leases Mine type & Facilities,
location access Ownership Operator or options History mineralisation style Power source use & condition
Nickel West
Mt Keith mine and concentrator
485 km north Private road BHP 100% BHP Mining leases Commissioned Open-cut On-site third Concentration
of Kalgoorlie, Nickel granted by in 1995 by WMC Disseminated party gas-fired plant with a
Western concentrate Western Acquired in 2005 textured magmatic turbines with nominal capacity:
Australia transported Australian as part of WMC nickel-sulphide backup from 11 Mtpa of ore
by road to Government acquisition mineralisation diesel engine
Leinster for Key leases expire associated with generation
drying and between 2029 a metamorphosed Contracts
on- shipping and 2036 ultramafic intrusion expire in
Renewals at December
government 2023
discretion Natural gas
sourced and
transported
under separate
long-term
contracts
Leinster mine complex and concentrator
375 km north Public road BHP 100% BHP Mining leases Production Open-cut and On-site third Concentration plant
of Kalgoorlie, Nickel granted by commenced underground party gas-fired with a nominal
Western concentrate Western in 1979 Steeply dipping turbines with capacity: 3 Mtpa
Australia shipped by Australian Acquired in 2005 disseminated and back up from of ore
road and rail to Government as part of WMC massive textured diesel engine
Kalgoorlie Key leases acquisition nickel-sulphide generation
Nickel Smelter expire between Perseverance mineralisation Contracts
2025 and 2040 underground associated with expire in
Renewals of mine ceased metamorphosed December
principal operations ultramafic lava flows 2023
mineral lease during 2013 and intrusions Natural gas
in accordance sourced and
with Nickel transported
(Agnew) under separate
Agreement long-term
contracts
Cliffs mine
481 km north Private road BHP 100% BHP Mining leases Production Underground Supplied from Mine site
of Kalgoorlie, Nickel ore granted by commenced Steeply dipping Mt Keith
Western transported by Western in 2008 massive textured
Australia road to Leinster Australian Acquired in 2005 nickel-sulphide
or Mt Keith for Government as part of WMC mineralisation
further Key leases acquisition associated with
processing expire between metamorphosed
2025 and 2028 ultramafic lava flows
Renewals at
government
discretion
Nickel smelters, refineries and processing plants

Smelter, refinery Title, leases Nominal
or processing plant Location Ownership Operator or options Product production capacity Power source
Nickel West
Kambalda
Nickel concentrator 56 km south BHP 100% BHP Mineral leases Concentrate 1.6 Mtpa ore On-site third party gas-fired
of Kalgoorlie, granted by containing Ore sourced turbines supplemented
Western Western approximately through tolling by access to grid power
Australia Australian 13% nickel and concentrate Contracts expire
Government purchase in December 2023
Key leases expire arrangements Natural gas sourced and
in 2028 with third parties transported under separate
in Kambalda region long-term contracts
Kalgoorlie
Nickel smelter Kalgoorlie, BHP 100% BHP Freehold title Matte containing 110 ktpa matte On-site third party gas-fired
Western over the property approximately 65% turbines supplemented
Australia nickel by access to grid power
Contracts expire in
December 2023
Natural gas sourced and
transported under separate
long-term contracts
Kwinana
Nickel refinery 30 km south BHP 100% BHP Freehold title London Metal 82.5 ktpa nickel matte Power is sourced from the
of Perth, over the property Exchange (LME) local grid, which is supplied
Western grade nickel under a retail contract
Australia briquettes,
nickel powder
Also intermediate
products, including
copper sulphide,
cobalt-nickel-sulphide,
ammonium-sulphate

272 BHP Annual Report 2020