Fluor Corporation has announced that its Mining & Metals business has been awarded a joint venture contract with Hatch to perform engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) for BHP’s proposed Olympic Dam Smelter & Refinery Expansion Project in South Australia, which remains subject to Final Investment Decision by BHP. Fluor will recognise its undisclosed portion of the contract value in the fourth quarter of 2024.

“We are excited to support BHP on their growth plans to increase production of refined copper cathode in South Australia,” said Harish Jammula, President of Fluor’s Mining & Metals business. “Accelerated expansion of the downstream processing sector is increasingly important to secure local supply of mined materials, become independent of overseas supply and drive sustainable production technologies.”

“Hatch is delighted to be partnering with BHP to support its Copper South Australia growth plans. Together with Fluor, we look forward to working closely and collaboratively with the Copper South Australia team,” shared Tina Armstrong, Global Managing Director, Metals, Hatch.

The contract will be executed in stages as BHP progresses towards a final investment decision on the smelter and refinery expansion, currently expected in the first half of 2027, and through to subsequent construction.

This phased strategy aims to support BHP’s assessment of the pathway to increase production in South Australia to more than 500,000 t of refined copper cathode by the early 2030s, and a strategy to deliver up to 650,000 t of refined copper cathode from the mid-2030s.