September 07, 2026 • 3 min read
BHP awards Worley contracts for Copper South Australia projects
Worley has been awarded contracts by BHP to provide study and engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services for expansion projects at Olympic Dam and Carrapateena, which remain subject to final investment decision by BHP.
The projects form part of BHP’s Copper South Australia growth plans to increase production as demand continues to grow, driven by electrification and the energy transition.
Worley will deliver study and EPCM services concurrently across multiple project phases for potential block cave development and associated infrastructure at Olympic Dam, and the potential expansion of Carrapateena’s underground operations and processing infrastructure. Initial EPCM services have commenced for early-phase activities.
Worley will provide full delivery and technical expertise through its team in Australia, supported by industry-leading specialist engineering service providers and Worley’s Globally Integrated Delivery team, as well as support from China and Chile. The scope spans underground mining, processing and infrastructure across a connected “cave to concentrate” program.
Worley’s consulting teams in APAC have helped inform BHP’s growth plans through a range of projects over the last two years, including development option studies, techno-economic modelling, logistics assessments and support for project planning activities.
“This contract reflects Worley’s continued focus on energy transition materials, such as copper, as a priority growth market,” said Chris Ashton, Chief Executive Officer of Worley. “We are pleased to provide ongoing support for BHP’s ambition to grow its copper production in South Australia."
“Our team brings experience in underground mining, processing and major project delivery, and we look forward to working with BHP and the local businesses in South Australia to progress these mega projects.”
"We are proud to be partnering with Worley to help deliver the next phase of Copper South Australia’s growth. These projects are focused on improving capital intensity and unlocking additional value from our world-class assets through targeted expansions of material handling and concentrating facilities at both Carrapateena and Olympic Dam."
"Worley’s capability and experience will be important as we progress our plans to sustainably grow copper production and meet increasing global demand for this critical commodity."
Pedram Ittehadi, Head of CuSA Major Projects, BHP
This award reinforces Worley’s focus on full project delivery, bringing together studies, engineering and EPCM to support customers across the life of their assets, and builds on its experience supporting copper projects globally.
*Block cave mining is a large scale underground method where ore is undercut so it naturally collapses under its own weight, with the broken rock then collected through tunnels below for processing.
For further information, please contact:
Media Relations
Janelle Carrigan
Ph: +61 409 939 920,
[email protected]
About Worley: Worley is a global company of energy, chemicals and resources experts headquartered in Australia and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: WOR). We partner with our customers to deliver projects and create value across the life of their assets. We specialize in consulting, engineering, procurement and construction across the project lifecycle, with services extending through to operations and decommissioning. Leveraging extensive experience and AI-enabled delivery, we support customers in navigating complexity as they meet today’s needs and transition to more sustainable solutions.
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