BHP is focused on the resources the world needs to develop and decarbonise, including copper, nickel, potash, iron ore and metallurgical coal for the steel needed for global infrastructure and the energy transition.

Project: Surface debottlenecking program (SDP) for improving efficiency, productivity and competitiveness

Category: Innovation and transformation - productivity improvement - Resources - Mineral, extractives or petroleum exploration operations

The surface debottlenecking program (SDP) is designed to increase plant capacity at Olympic Dam (OD) to unprecedented rates with minimal capital investment, that is 11 Mtpa of Ore milled and greater than 525 ktpa of concentrate smelted by FY26, enabling additional production of copper, gold, uranium and silver.

SDP is an innovative way of expanding plant capacity, unlike the previous models of delivering BHP’s expansions as one large project. SDP adopts a creative, rapid, agile and targeted approach to incremental capacity uplift backed by technical evidence, improved automation and advanced data analysis techniques.

It is a suite of initiatives comprising operational improvements, asset integrity optimisations and new small to medium sized capital projects which enable increased copper production in an efficient, innovative and sustainable manner.

The program contributes to cost savings, energy efficiencies and productivity while reducing fossil fuel usage and creating additional employment within South Australia. SDP supports decarbonisation by delivering lower-cost copper to the world, whilst creating a competitive advantage.

More information

• SDP glossary of terms
  (PDF, 85.9 KB)
• SDP target rates FY23-FY25
  (PDF, 169.3 KB)
• Increment improvement of milling rates across autogenous mills
  (PDF, 216.0 KB)
• Smelter ramp-up and stabilisation
  (PDF, 245.3 KB)

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