AUSTRALIA April 22 2015 11:45 AM
 

PERTH (Scrap Register): BHP Billiton has reported that its Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) production up by 16% to a record 188 Mt (100% basis) underpinned by continued improvements in our integrated supply chain during the first nine months of this financial year. WAIO production for the 2015 financial year is now expected to be 250 Mt (100% basis).

"The potential of our installed infrastructure continues to exceed expectations and as a result we are deferring the Inner Harbour Debottlenecking project. While this will lead to a slower path to system capacity of 290 Mtpa, it will come at a lower capital cost,” the company said in a press release.

BHP Billiton copper production also increased by 2% to 1.3 Mt as strong underlying operating performance at Escondida more than offset the impacts of severe weather in Northern Chile, lower grades at Antamina and a mill outage at Olympic Dam. Production for the 2015 financial year is now expected to be 1.7 Mt.

In Australia, the fiscal year or, more commonly, financial year, starts on 1 July and ends on 30 June.