BHP Group LimitedBHP secures environmental permit for Escondida expansion, enabling $1.3B early-stage projects to address declining ore grades and boost copper output.
BHP Group has secured an initial environmental permit for the expansion of its Escondida copper mine in Chile. The approval allows the company to proceed with early-stage projects valued at $1.3 billion, including sulphide leaching operations and electricity infrastructure improvements. This permit is a key milestone within BHP's broader investment plan, which involves spending between $10.7 billion and $14.7 billion on its Chilean operations in the coming years. The upgrades aim to address declining ore grades and support the company's long-term goal of doubling its global copper output to over two million tonnes by the mid-2030s. BHP holds a 57.5% interest in the Escondida site, with the remaining ownership split between Rio Tinto Group and a consortium of Japanese companies.
BHP Group LimitedBHP secures environmental permit for Escondida expansion, enabling $1.3B early-stage projects to address declining ore grades and boost copper output.
Rio Tinto PLCRio Tinto holds minority stake in Escondida, benefiting indirectly from the expansion permit.