BHP’s Oak Dam exploration program has received environmental approval from the South Australian Government.
Oak Dam is located 65km southeast of BHP’s Olympic Dam mine and is set to be one of the largest mineral exploration programs ever undertaken in the state.
The environmental approval will allow for up to 14 drill rigs, associated core processing facilities and an accommodation camp to house up to 150 workers.
“Oak Dam is an exciting prospect and growth option for our copper business in South Australia, and we look forward to undertaking further exploration to better define the resource and inform our future planning,” BHP chief operating officer Edgar Basto said.
More than 90km of exploration has already been drilled at Oak Dam, but with the new environmental approval allowing for more than double the amount of drill rigs at the site, exploration is expected to proceed a lot faster.
The Oak Dam site was discovered in 2018, with early sampling recording intercepts of copper of up to 6 per cent. The top of the ore body ranges from 700 to 900 metres below the surface.
It will be an important site for the future as the world looks toward decarbonisation and bolster BHP as it continues on its hunt to find the copper the world needs for the energy transition.
BHP is currently eyeing up another copper deposit in the Gawler Craton region of the state and will invest millions over the next few years as it continues its exploration efforts.
In its recent half-year report, BHP specifically highlighted the growth potential of Oak Dam and outlined plans to continue drilling while engaging with key stakeholders and Traditional Owners.