BHP to spend A$300m on Pilbara environment

According to Mining News Pro - “BHP has reviewed global best practice dust management and air quality control methods and identified new opportunities to further improve our approach. We recognise we have a shared responsibility to address dust issues in the Pilbara,” said GM for Port, Nilson Davila.

“We have worked, and will continue to work closely with government, industry and the community to further improve air quality controls at our operations and for the communities in which we operate.”

Davila noted that the investment reinforced BHP’s commitment to the long-term, sustainable future of the Pilbara region as an economic powerhouse and follows A$400-million in projects already delivered by BHP over the past decade to minimise dust emissions across its supply chain.

The Pilbara air quality program will build a solid foundation for the sustainable future of BHP’s operations and involves the construction of wind fences at port operations, a method that has been proven to significantly reduce the potential for dust lift-off from stockpiles.

The programme will also see trialling with a view to at-scale construction of vegetation barriers to capture dust in the West End in Port Hedland, in partnership with Curtin University and Greening Australia, and the implementation of operational dust control projects across BHP’s entire Pilbara supply chain, such as moisture management systems, ore conditioning and monitoring infrastructure, and improvements across our existing controls at our mines and port.

Davila noted that individual projects would still be subject to all necessary internal and state government approvals.

“The planned investment signals BHP’s strong commitment to the Pilbara, and particularly to the revitalisation of the West End into a vibrant commercial hub,” Davila said.

“In consultation with the community we want to ensure we help to improve local amenity while also continuing to provide jobs and economic opportunity for the region.”