(Kitco News) - BHP announced Monday that for the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, the company’s total copper production decreased by four per cent to 1,574 kt.
The company said that copper production at Escondida decreased by six per cent to 1,004 kt primarily due to higher than expected concentrator feed grade decline of four per cent, public road blockades affecting access to site for both workers and supplies, and the impact of a reduced operational workforce from COVID-19.
BHP added that its total copper production for the 2023 financial year is expected to be between 1,635 and 1,825 kt.
The company’s total iron ore production was in line with the prior period at 253 Mt. Production for the 2023 financial year is expected to be between 249 and 260 Mt.
BHP also noted that its metallurgical coal production decreased by nine per cent to 29 Mt (58 Mt on a 100 per cent basis). Significant wet weather impacts across most BMA operations and labour constraints, including COVID-19 related absenteeism which impacted stripping and mine productivity, more than offset record production at the Broadmeadow mine.
The company’s nickel production decreased by 14 per cent to 77 kt due to the significant impacts of COVID-19 related labour absenteeism and workforce shortages, and unplanned downtime at the oxygen plant leading to a 15 day smelter outage in the June 2022 quarter.
Production of nickel for the 2023 financial year is expected to be between 80 and 90 kt, weighted to the second half of the year due to planned smelter maintenance in the first half.
Importantly, BHP also said that its US$5.7 billion Jansen potash project in Canada is tracking to plan and the company is working to bring first production forward to 2026.
BHP is a global mining leader. The company is among the world’s top producers of commodities, including iron ore, copper, nickel and metallurgical (steelmaking) coal.
