BHP halted or delayed emissions-reducing projects in its Western Australian iron ore operations. Leaked internal records show plans for renewable power and storage in the Pilbara were shelved or postponed after board approval and funding. A 50-megawatt solar farm and 20MW battery at the Jimblebar mine were effectively shelved soon after approval in mid-2023. A larger system of nearly 500MW of solar, wind, and battery capacity was significantly delayed and received no capital funding until 2031 at the earliest, despite an earlier target to deliver first power from December 2027. Internal documents indicate awareness that delayed climate action could create reputational risk and that urgent decarbonisation supported its licence to operate. BHP slowed its decarbonisation program, reducing spending and deferring meaningful investment to the 2030s at the earliest.
"BHP has halted or delayed projects to cut vast amounts of emissions and has quietly war-gamed options to push major climate investments in its Western Australian iron ore operations into the next two decades, internal documents show. An exclusive investigation based on documents leaked to the Guardian and the ABC's Four Corners can reveal that BHP, one of Australia's biggest historic emitters, has dumped plans for a facility that could have significantly reduced emissions and has put on ice renewable projects designed to power its iron ore operations in the vast, resource-rich Pilbara region."
"The cache of leaked internal records, dubbed the BHP files, reveals that the company was aware delayed climate action in the Pilbara would pose a reputational risk and that urgent decarbonisation in line with BHP's public commitments effectively underpinned its licence to operate. Despite the warnings, it announced a slowdown of its decarbonisation program last year, slashing spending and putting off meaningful investment until the 2030s at the earliest. It did so in the face of overwhelming shareholder support for urgent climate action and board approval of a key solar project."
"Documents reveal: BHP's first planned investment in its inland Pilbara decarbonisation plan a 50-megawatt solar farm and 20MW battery at its Jimblebar mine was effectively shelved soon after being approved and funded by the board in mid-2023. The move prompted internal criticism from staff, some of whom questioned the decision to unilaterally close a board-approved project. A huge system of almost 500MW solar, wind and battery that could power a small city has been significantly delayed."
"Documents show it will not progress in its current form and has been given no capital funding until 2031 at the earliest, despite an initial plan for it to deliver its first power from December 2027."
Read at www.theguardian.com
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