Work is underway to deliver accommodation that will house 1600 workers for BHP’s maintenance and expansion at Olympic Dam in South Australia.
BHP plans to undergo major smelter maintenance work from mid-2027 ahead of the two-stage copper smelter refinery expansion.
South Australian treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said BHP has big plans for the state, with billions of dollars of investment in the pipeline.
“The Malinauskas Government is committed to backing BHP in unlocking our state’s copper potential, by working to streamline assessment processes and investigating infrastructure solutions like Northern Water,” he said.
“Global copper demand is projected to grow 70 per cent by 2050, driven by population growth, rising living standards and the energy transition – and South Australia is home to more than two-thirds of Australia’s copper resources.
“We sit at the intersection of abundant copper and clean energy, with a unique opportunity – clean energy enabled by copper can become the bedrock for broadening our industrial growth.”
Olympic Dam’s South Village will be fitted out with up to 1080 new accommodation rooms, laundry facilities, kitchens, dining and recreation areas, while 496 existing accommodation rooms will be refurbished.
Modular construction firm Fleetwood Australia has started construction of 444 accommodation rooms and four laundry buildings from its Para Hills West facility, creating up to 30 new local jobs.
Other businesses like Ahrens, MPS, and Ausco will deliver a range of temporary and permanent shared facilities for the site.
BHP copper SA asset president, Anna Wiley, said the companies each bring strong expertise and experience to deliver this accommodation in support of the smelter maintenance project.
“We are very pleased to strengthen our partnerships with local SA and Australian businesses, creating local jobs and delivering value to communities,” Wiley said.
“The 2027 smelter maintenance project is critical to maintaining our strong copper production, and will set us up for future construction of a two-stage smelter at Olympic Dam.”