BHP to test drive battery-electric Toyota HiLux 

Miner BHP will trial the first-ever, battery-electric Toyota HiLux double-cab ute prototype at its Port Hedland operations in Western Australia where it will be used in a range of applications traditionally performed by diesel-powered light vehicles. The trial will start in late November and run for about 12 months.  “Joining with BHP to help further develop this HiLux BEV prototype…

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Miners, Brazil reach compensation deal for 2015 disaster

Brazil has signed a 170 billion reais (US$29.85 billion) compensation agreement with BHP, Vale and Samarco for the Mariana tailings dam collapse in 2015 that killed 19 and polluted the Doce River, reported Reuters. The collapse at the iron ore mine owned by Samarco, a joint venture between Vale and BHP, near the city of Mariana in southeastern Brazil, is…

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BHP pulls ahead in Olympic Dam expansion

BHP has confirmed that the South Australian government has commenced its application and assessment process for BHP’s planned smelter and refinery expansion at Olympic Dam. Per a notification in the South Australian Government Gazette, the next steps are being made for BHP’s plans in the SA region. Last week, the miner said in its FY24 full-year results that it had…

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BHP, Escondida union reach deal

The union at Chile’s Escondida copper mine has signed a three-year deal with BHP, ending a strike that could have threatened global supplies of the metal, reported Reuters. The agreement included changes in labour conditions such as “initiatives to optimize shift changes, increase equipment utilization and compliance with the 40-hour law,” BHP said in a statement. The mine’s union had…

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South Australia copper consortium’s lasting impact

The University of Adelaide’s South Australian-based consortium of universities, which has worked with METS partners, mining companies and key stakeholders to unlock significant economic potential, has made an impact to boost copper – an impact that will last after concluding as collaborations continue to advance. The Integrated Mining Consortium, funded by the South Australian Premier’s Research and Industry Fund (PRIF),…

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BHP to suspend WA nickel operations amid saturated market

BHP said it will temporarily suspend its Western Australian nickel operations as it has not “been able to overcome the substantial economic challenges driven by a global oversupply of nickel.” The miner said the suspension will begin in October and last at least until February 2027.  “We understand this is a challenging period for the Western Australia Nickel team and…

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Vale, BHP proposes new reparations offer

Miners Vale and BHP, and their joint venture Samarco, have presented Brazilian authorities with a new offer to settle reparations for a tailings dam collapse in 2015, reported Reuters. The new proposal totals 140 billion reais (US$26.09 billion), including 37 billion reais already disbursed in reparation measures, Vale said in a securities filing. It is 13 billion reais higher than…

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BHP goes electric with first CAT Early Learner truck

Before the first Early Learner CAT 793 battery-electric haul truck (BEHT) rolls into BHP’s Jimblebar mine in Western Australia in October, the miner’s Operational Decarbonisation team visited Caterpillar’s Tucson Proving Ground (USA) to witness it in action. “It’s incredibly exciting to be here in Tucson seeing this battery-electric truck in action. Not only do these trials represent an important step…

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