Oak Dam Underground Access

Project at a glance
Project Details:
BHP Olympic Dam (BHP) is a fully-integrated mining and mineral processing operation, owned by the BHP Group through its wholly owned subsidiary BHP Olympic Dam Corporation Pty Ltd.
Oak Dam is a deep iron oxide copper-gold mineralised system located approximately 65 km south-east of Olympic Dam. BHP is currently completing exploration drilling from the surface to continue definition of the grade, geometry and continuity of the mineralisation. BHP is studying the option for early underground access which would support underground exploration drilling of the ore body.
The Oak Dam Underground Access Project (Project) scope is to construct a twin decline to access the mineral deposit ~700m below ground level. The Project will be executed over three stages: Bulk Earthworks including box cut construction; Non-Process Infrastructure (NPI) providing surface infrastructure and installation, and Decline Development Operations.
These three project stages represent the major Works Packages that will be released via the ICN Gateway. The first of these Works Packages will be Decline Development, followed by the remainder in late 2023/early 2024.
Earthworks and NPI works are expected to commence in May 2025, with Decline Development commencing in January 2026. The Project is expected to reach completion by 2029.
Scope Overview:
The Project Scope includes the following under three main Work Packages, including the provision of a mix of permanent (P) and temporary infrastructure, as set out below:
- Earthworks
* Top Soil Storage (P)
* Borrow Pits (P)
* Site Wide Civils
* Laydown Areas
* Stormwater Storage
* Sediment Ponds (P)
* Waste Rock Storage Pad (P)
* Waste Rock Haulage Road
* On site Roads/Tracks
* Explosive Magazine
* Box Cut (P)
* Access Road to Site (P)
* Water Supply - Non Process Infrastructure
* Water Storage
* Firewater System
* Waste Management Facilities
* Power Distribution (P)
* Diesel Power Generation
* Offices/Cribs/Ablutions
* Emergency Response
* Site Communications - Decline Development Operations
* Batch Plant
* Surface Maintenance Facility
* Overburden Stockpile (P)
* Twin Declines (P)
* Ventilation Shafts and Fans
*Power Distribution
*Drilling Water Supply
*UG Emergency Refuge
*Dewatering Pump Station
Note that BHP intends to award each Works Package as a single contract. Please do not submit Expressions of Interest for partial Works Packages.
Indicative Timeline
SPS completion - December 2023
DPS commencement - December 2023
Earthworks / NPI commencement - FY25
Decline Development Operations commencement - FY25
Project completion - FY29
Disclaimer
The proposed Project is currently completing a Selection Phase or 'pre-feasibility' study and is subject to a number of approvals. Accordingly, the scope descriptions, timelines and values stated in this project description are indicative only and subject to change.
How to register an Expression of Interest
- Prior to submitting an EOI for this work package, you will require an active ICN Gateway company profile. Information on how to register your company on ICN Gateway is available here - ICN Gateway User Guide.
- To submit your EOI, click on the 'create EOI' link which can be found via the View Work Packages button below.
BHP owns and operates Prominent Hill and Carrapateena, both high quality copper-gold mines in South Australia.
Carrapateena produces copper concentrate and is one of the largest mining projects in South Australia in the last decade. The Carrapateena Operation is located 472 kilometers north-west of Adelaide, South Australia and is located on the traditional land of the Kokatha people.
Prominent Hill produces one of the highest grades of copper concentrate in the world. The Prominent Hill Operation is located 650 kilometers north-west of Adelaide, South Australia, and is located on the traditional lands of the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara people.
The West Musgrave Project is a major copper-nickel sulphide deposit located in the Musgrave Province. The Project's Pre-Feasibility Study has confirmed it can be a low carbon, low cost, long life mine producing copper and nickel, both in-demand minerals for the renewable and electrification industries.
The Prominent Hill Expansion Project (PHOX Project) is an upgrade to the existing Prominent Hill copper-gold mine deposit located approximately 130 km southeast of Coober Pedy and 150 km northwest of Roxby Downs.