Copper

Our Copper business has an excellent portfolio of mining operations with substantial growth opportunities and a number of expansion opportunities — both greenfield (new sites) and brownfield (developments on existing sites).  This is allowing us to expand our production significantly through various projects.

With a portfolio of large, low-cost mining operations — including the Escondida mine in Chile which is the world's largest single producer of copper — our aim is to become the pre-eminent supplier in copper through capacity expansions, reliable supply and innovative solutions.  We also produce uranium oxide concentrate, lead concentrates and zinc concentrates, and provide base metal concentrates to custom smelters and copper cathodes to rod and brass mills and casting plants.

We are also focused on exploration.  Our greenfield activities allow us to explore some of the most geologically prospective terrains across a wide array of countries and operating environments.  Our exploration activities include opportunity identification, application for and acquisition of mineral title, early reconnaissance operations to multi-million-dollar delineation drilling programs.

Peter Beaven, President, Copper

Peter was appointed President, Copper in May 2013.  Previously he was the President of Base Metals and prior to that appointment in November 2010, President of BHP Billiton’s Manganese business and Vice President and Chief Development Officer for Carbon Steel Materials.  He has wide experience across a range of regions and businesses in BHP Billiton and UBS Warburg.  Peter holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa and is a Chartered Accountant.

Antamina

Antamina is located in the Andes, North Central Peru and is owned by Compañía Minera Antamina SA, in which BHP Billiton holds a 33.75 per cent interest.  The remaining interests are held by GlencoreXstrata (33.75 per cent), Teck (22.5 per cent) and Mitsubishi (10 per cent). Antamina is the operator of the mine and produces copper and zinc concentrates.

Base Metals North America

Comprises the operational area of  Reclamation and Closed Mines and the offices located in Tucson, Arizona.

BHP Billiton Pampa Norte

Comprises Spence and Cerro Colorado operations:

Spence (BHP Billiton 100 per cent) is located in the Atacama Desert, in the north of Chile.  It started operations in 2006, incorporating the latest technologies available.  It is an open pit mine, with an associated leaching process, solvents extraction and electro-winning.

Cerro Colorado (BHP Billiton 100 per cent) is located in northern Chile.  It produces high purity copper cathodes through leaching and electro-winning.

Cannington

Located in north west Queensland, Cannington (BHP Billiton 100 per cent) is a fly-in fly-out mining and processing operation that has grown to become the world’s largest and lowest cost producer of silver and lead.  The operation consists of an underground mine and metallurgical processing facility.

Escondida

Minera Escondida (BHP Billiton 57. 5 per cent) is located in the Atacama Desert in the north of Chile.  Escondida produces copper concentrate and copper cathodes.  Escondida mine is the world’s largest copper producer.

Olympic Dam

Located 560 kilometres north of Adelaide, South Australia, Olympic Dam is Australia's largest underground mine, producing copper cathode, uranium oxide concentrate, gold and silver.