BHP awards over $138M contract to Chinese firm for South Australian expansion project

Reuters | July 8, 2026 | 7:41 am Suppliers & Equipment Top Companies Australia China Copper

The Olympic Dam is one of the largest copper mines in the world. (Image courtesy of BHP.)

BHP on Wednesday awarded a contract worth more than A$200 million ($138.80 million) to China Nerin Engineering to design and supply key processing facilities in South Australia.

The contract is a part of BHP’s proposed smelter and refinery expansion project in South Australia, the company said.

China Nerin Engineering, a metallurgical engineering design firm, will execute the contract in stages as BHP advances studies on the project ahead of a potential final investment decision (FID) in 2027.

The supply part of the agreement depends on BHP approving the FID on the smelter and refinery expansion, it added.

BHP urged to assess rare earths at Olympic Dam

The contract is tied to BHP’s planned expansion of the Olympic Dam smelter and refinery and is central to its plan to boost copper production in South Australia to 500,000 metric tons a year through the 2030s.

China Nerin Engineering said in a separate statement that completion is set for early 2032.

($1 = 1.4409 Australian dollars)

(By Keshav Singh Chundawat; Editing by Sonia Cheema)