BHP's Escondida Copper Mine Expansion Receives First Major Environmental Permit, $14.7 Billion Project Launched

On July 7, BHP announced that its Escondida copper mine expansion project in Chile had secured the first major environmental permit, officially commencing a total investment of approximately $14.7 billion. Chile’s Antofagasta Environmental Assessment Commission approved early-stage works covering sulfide leaching and power upgrades, costing approximately $1.3 billion.

Escondida is the world’s largest copper mine, with BHP holding a 57.5% stake, Rio Tinto 30%, and the remainder held by a Japanese enterprise consortium. As the world’s largest copper ore producer, BHP plans to more than double annual production to over 2 million mt by the mid-2030s. The company expects to invest $10.7 billion to $14.7 billion in its Chilean operations over the coming years, and has applied for $1.5 billion to restart the Cerro Colorado mine and $5.9 billion to build a new beneficiation plant.