Approval allows BHP to begin $1.3bn in early works, supporting long-term output growth amid falling ore grades.
BHP Group has received environmental clearance to proceed with a $14.7bn expansion of its Escondida copper mine in Chile. The permit covers initial projects, including sulphide leaching and electricity infrastructure upgrades, with early works estimated at $1.3bn.
The Escondida mine, majority-owned by BHP, is critical to the company’s goal of nearly doubling global copper output to over 2 million tonnes annually by the mid-2030s. Falling ore grades have prompted significant investment to maintain production levels.
BHP plans to spend between $10.7bn and $14.7bn on its Chilean operations in the coming years, reflecting copper’s role in decarbonisation and data centre growth.