BHP (NYSE:BHP) has announced an investment of more than 840 million Australian dollars ($556 million) into growth-enabling copper projects at Olympic Dam in northern South Australia. The funding will expand mining access, upgrade smelting capacity, and reinforce the foundations of the company’s Copper SA operations.

“BHP is the largest producer of copper in the world, and we expect to grow our copper base from 1.7 million tons to around 2.5 million tons per annum,” Chief Operating Officer Edgar Basto said. “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 capex package includes construction of a new underground decline into the Southern Mine Area, providing entry to deeper ore bodies and enabling more efficient material transport. Nearly 200 construction jobs are expected to be created during ...