Case Studies
Our case studies demonstrate how Our Sustainability Framework (PDF 1.8KB) and our Sustainable Development Policy (PDF 28KB) direct our approach to community health, environmental protection, the health and safety of our workforce and our commitment to good governance and socio-economic development.
We have recently added some new case studies for the 2009 reporting period and we will continue to provide new case studies throughout the year.
Mine Closure - Treating acid rock drainage using an in-lake biological treatment process
A major element of the Island Copper Mine closure plan was flooding of the open pit with seawater and capping that seawater with a layer of freshwater. Both the lower layers and the top layer receive acid rock drainage requiring treatment. The water in these layers is treated using an in-lake biological treatment process.
Managing excess water to provide a community asset
If not managed highly saline excess water has the ability to decant from the closed South Witbank mine. By developing a treatment facility this challenge has turned into an opportunity to supply drinking-quality water to local municipalities
Contributing to poverty relief in rural Peru
Poverty Relief and Alleviation is an economic development program that connects small producers in Peru to national and international markets.
Retirement as a productive stage of life
BHP Billiton's 99.9 per cent owned Cerro Matoso S.A. is an integrated nickel mining and smelting operation located near the town of Montelíbano, in the northern Colombia province of Córdoba. Commercial production began in 1982. Some 950 employees and 1,000 contractors work at Cerro Matoso.
Eradicating dengue fever spreading mosquitoes from Groote Eylandt
The Groote Eylandt Mining Company Pty Ltd (GEMCO) in partnership with the Medical Entomology Branch of the Northern Territory health service, has managed a successful eradication program on Groote Eylandt for the two types of mosquito that can transmit dengue fever.
