Tracker Updates for Olympic Dam (Upper Spencer Gulf)

19 Aug 2009

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00

The public submissions period for the project closed on 8th August, one day after a South Australian Parliamentary Committee recommended that BHP Billiton reconsider the location of the project, given that the site is near the main breeding area of…

01 Jun 2009

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00

The government of South Australia has cancelled its investment commitment to BHP Billiton’s 74 MGD (280,090m3/d) SWRO. The government had planned to take 21 MGD (79,485m3/d) of the capacity for municipal use to replace River Murray water to the…

01 May 2009

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00

A draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been released for BHP Billiton’s proposed 11-year, A$15 billion dollar mining expansion which includes a 74 MGD (280,090m3/d) SWRO plant at Point Lowly near Whyalla on the Eyre Peninsula. The…

01 Aug 2008

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00

The original study by GHD-Fichtner on behalf of BHP Billiton was expected at the end of 2007, but the project has now become part of a much larger proposal, and the pre-feasibility study for this in now not expected to be completed until the end of…

01 May 2007

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00

GHD-Fichtner’s feasibility study is underway and a report is expected at the end of 2007. The study will investigate a proposed seawater desalination facility to support the expansion of the Olympic Dam mine. Several water supply options have been…

01 Feb 2007

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00

BHP Billiton has selected GHD-Fichtner to undertake a feasibility study for a desal plant to support the expansion of the Olympic Dam mine. Several water supply options have been examined, with a coastal desalination plant favoured because it meets…

01 Mar 2006

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:00:00

The South Australian Government has announced that it will participate with BHP Billiton to investigate the development of a seawater desalination plant in the Upper Spencer Gulf. Mike Rann, South Australia’s premier and Dr. Roger Higgins, BHP…

01 Nov 2005

Tue, 01 Nov 2005 00:00:00

BHP Billiton has committed A$1 billion to expanding the Olympic Dam mine including A$200m for the desalination plant and A$300m for pipeline to supply the water. A number of companies have shown interest in the project including Aquasol, GE, United…

01 Aug 2005

Mon, 01 Aug 2005 00:00:00

WMC Resources in collaboration with the SA Government is undertaking a pre-feasibility study into the expansion of its Olympic Dam mining and processing operations. Water is currently supplied from two borefields north of the Olympic Dam mine. In…

01 May 2005

Sun, 01 May 2005 00:00:00

An A$300m plant is now being discussed to primarily supply the expansion of the Olympic Dam copper mine. Mining capacity is expected to more than double,leading to the requirement of water augmenting solutions. Discussions on the feasibility of…