Base Metals
- Cerro Colorado
Cerro Colorado copper operations in the
Atacama Desert, Chile
BHP Billiton is one of the world's top producers of copper and a leading producer of uranium, silver, gold, lead and zinc. With the acquisition of WMC Resources Ltd, Base Metals also became the world's fourth largest uranium producer. We operate two mines in Australia (Cannington, Queensland, and Olympic Dam, South Australia), two in northern Chile (Cerro Colorado and Escondida), and one in Peru (Tintaya), with a joint venture interest in the Antamina mine in Peru. The Spence copper project in Chile will come on line in 2006.
HSEC Overview 2005
Key aspects of the HSEC performance of Base Metals for the reporting period 2004/2005:
- We had no fatalities; our classified injury frequency rate was reduced by 13 per cent, and our expansion projects all achieved their 2005 safety targets.
- We achieved our target of zero significant environmental incidents.
- One significant community incident occurred at Tintaya when a mob invaded the property, setting fires and looting and vandalising the facilities.
- Escondida received the National Safety Award of the Chilean National Geological and Mining Service.
- Potential environmental/community incidents were identified at Cerro Colorado and action plans were implemented to resolve the concerns.
HSEC Outlook
Looking ahead, the primary HSEC focus for Base Metals will be:
- continued improvement of safety performance
- integration of the Olympic Dam mine with the Base Metals business, and the identification and transfer of their best practices
- continued improvement in the use of environmental and community monitoring data to anticipate and prevent potential incidents
- proactive participation in multilateral community initiatives like the Tintaya Dialogue Table, Framework Agreement, and Environment Commission
- improved sharing of best practices through regional and global networks and communities of practice.
