BHP awards Worley EPCM and study contracts for Copper South Australia
- Worley will provide study and EPCM services for potential expansions at Olympic Dam and Carrapateena, both subject to BHP final investment decisions.
- Initial EPCM services have commenced to support early-phase activities.
- Scope includes potential block cave development, underground mining, processing and a connected "cave to concentrate" programme.
- Delivery led from Worley’s Australia team, supported by specialist providers, the Globally Integrated Delivery network and resources in China and Chile.
Contract award
BHP has awarded Worley contracts to provide study and engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services for expansion projects at Olympic Dam and Carrapateena; both projects remain subject to BHP final investment decisions.
Project scope
Worley will deliver concurrent study and EPCM activities across multiple phases for potential block cave development and associated infrastructure at Olympic Dam, and for the potential expansion of Carrapateena’s underground operations and processing infrastructure as part of a connected "cave to concentrate" programme. Initial EPCM services have commenced for early-phase work.
Delivery model and support
Full delivery and technical expertise will be led by Worley’s Australian team, supported by industry specialist engineering providers, Worley’s Globally Integrated Delivery team and support from China and Chile. Worley’s APAC consulting teams also contributed development option studies, techno‑economic modelling, logistics assessments and project planning for BHP over the past two years.
Stakeholder comments
BHP framed the work as targeting improved capital intensity and unlocking additional value via targeted expansions of material handling and concentrating facilities; Worley described the award as aligned with its focus on energy transition materials, including copper, and cited its experience in underground mining, processing and major project delivery.
Source: Worley