BHP Group

BHP Group, commonly branded simply as BHP, is an Australian multinational mining and metals company headquartered in Melbourne. Its corporate origins lie in the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, established in 1885 to develop the silver, lead and zinc resources of Broken Hill in New South Wales. Over time, the business expanded from mining into steelmaking, petroleum, mineral processing and international natural-resource operations. Its historic Australian identity is often associated with the nickname “the Big Australian.” The modern group was created in June 2001 through the merger of BHP and the Anglo-Dutch mining company Billiton. The combination produced a dual-listed company with a major Australian operating base and international assets acquired through Billiton’s earlier expansion. The group subsequently became one of the world’s largest diversified mining companies, with operations and investments spanning several continents. Its principal commodities have included iron ore, copper, metallurgical and energy coal, nickel, petroleum, uranium, diamonds and potash. BHP’s portfolio has changed substantially since the merger. The company sold or demerged a number of non-core and higher-cost operations, including the 2015 demerger of selected aluminium, coal, manganese, nickel and silver assets into South32. It also reduced exposure to some petroleum and expansion projects while retaining large-scale assets regarded as central to its portfolio. Iron ore from Western Australia and copper, especially the Escondida mine in Chile, became particularly important to the company’s production profile. Potash was pursued as a longer-term growth option, although the proposed acquisition of PotashCorp was withdrawn in 2010 after opposition from Canadian authorities. BHP is a publicly traded company whose primary listing is on the Australian Securities Exchange under the symbol BHP. The former dual-listed structure was simplified in January 2022 when the company relinquished its London Stock Exchange listing. BHP’s activities involve exploration, mine development, extraction, processing, transportation and marketing of mineral commodities to industrial customers worldwide. Its products support steelmaking, electricity generation, construction, manufacturing, energy infrastructure and agricultural production. The company presents its strategy around large-scale, long-life and comparatively low-cost assets, with increasing emphasis on commodities associated with electrification and energy transition, particularly copper and nickel, while managing its exposure to coal and petroleum. Like other global mining groups, BHP faces continuing scrutiny over greenhouse-gas emissions, tailings and water management, indigenous rights, labor relations, biodiversity and the social effects of large extraction projects. Its history therefore combines major industrial achievements and international expansion with disputes, regulatory investigations, project cancellations and operational restructuring.

BHP began as the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, incorporated in August 1885 to exploit the exceptional silver, lead and zinc deposit at Broken Hill. The discovery was associated with Charles Rasp, a boundary rider who pegged a claim in 1883, and a syndicate of investors that consolidated rights over the mineralized hill. Early ore was processed in Victoria, and the resulting production established the commercial foundation for the company. The original mining business gradually became an integrated industrial enterprise. In the early twentieth century, BHP moved into steelmaking, encouraged by the difficulty of recovering value from deeper sulphide ores and by the availability of iron-ore deposits in South Australia. Its Newcastle steel operations became a major part of Australian heavy industry. Metallurgical advances, including improved flotation and treatment techniques, also enabled the company to recover additional value from complex ores and mine tailings. During the Second World War, the Newcastle works were shelled by Japanese naval forces. The steel business was later separated, with the long-products operation becoming OneSteel in 2000 and the flat-steel business becoming BlueScope after an earlier spin-off. BHP entered petroleum exploration in the 1950s and expanded that activity after oil and natural-gas discoveries in Bass Strait during the 1960s. It also developed an international mining presence. Overseas ventures included the Ok Tedi copper mine in Papua New Guinea, the Escondida copper mine in Chile, and the Ekati diamond mine in Canada. Ok Tedi generated serious environmental and legal controversy after indigenous people successfully sued over alleged mining-related degradation. Escondida, by contrast, became one of the company’s most important long-term copper assets. Billiton’s history began in the Netherlands in 1860. The company obtained mineral rights in the Indonesian islands of Belitung and Bangka and initially worked with tin and lead before expanding into bauxite and other minerals. Shell acquired Billiton in 1970. The mining division later passed through South African ownership under Gencor, was separated from that group in the 1990s, and ultimately became the partner in BHP’s 2001 merger. The combination created BHP Billiton, a dual-listed Australian and British corporate structure with a broad international portfolio. During the 2000s, BHP expanded through acquisitions while also divesting transport, steel and other non-core businesses. It acquired WMC Resources in 2005, adding Olympic Dam and other mineral assets. A proposed takeover of Rio Tinto was rejected and later withdrawn in November 2008 as the financial crisis made the transaction increasingly risky. The downturn also led to closures and layoffs, including the suspension of Ravensthorpe nickel operations. BHP later sold Ravensthorpe to First Quantum Minerals. BHP pursued potash through the acquisition of Athabasca Potash and a proposed 2010 takeover of PotashCorp, but withdrew after Canadian regulatory opposition. It expanded into United States shale gas through the acquisitions of Chesapeake Energy assets and Petrohawk Energy. By 2012, however, the company was delaying capital-intensive projects, including the Olympic Dam expansion, and reassessing its growth program. In 2015, BHP separated a portfolio of aluminium, coal, manganese, nickel and silver assets into South32. The transaction materially concentrated BHP around a smaller group of large operations. The same year, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission imposed a US$25 million penalty over deficiencies connected with the company’s hospitality program for government and state-owned-enterprise officials during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. BHP Billiton changed its legal and trading names to BHP Group in 2018. In January 2022, the group ended its London listing and adopted a solely Australian Securities Exchange-listed structure. The contemporary business is centered on iron ore, copper, nickel, metallurgical coal and potash, with operations and investments across more than 25 countries. Its strategic narrative increasingly emphasizes copper and other commodities linked to electrification, while the company continues to manage the environmental, labor, regulatory and community responsibilities associated with large-scale mining.

1. 2022London listing is relinquished

   BHP ended its London Stock Exchange listing and became solely listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

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2. 2018BHP Billiton adopts BHP Group legal names

   BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton plc became BHP Group Limited and BHP Group plc.

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3. 2015South32 is demerged

   A group of aluminium, coal, manganese, nickel and silver assets was separated into South32.

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4. 2005WMC Resources acquisition is completed

   BHP acquired WMC Resources, including the Olympic Dam copper, gold and uranium operation.

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5. 2001BHP merges with Billiton

   The two companies combined to form BHP Billiton through a dual-listed company structure.

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6. 1960Bass Strait discoveries broaden the portfolio

   Oil and natural-gas discoveries in Bass Strait increased the importance of petroleum within BHP.

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7. 1950Petroleum exploration begins

   BHP began petroleum exploration, later expanding after Bass Strait oil and gas discoveries.

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8. 1915BHP enters steelmaking

   The company expanded into steel production, with Newcastle becoming its principal steelmaking center.

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9. 1885Broken Hill Proprietary Company is established

   The Broken Hill Proprietary Company was incorporated in August to develop the Broken Hill silver-lead-zinc deposit.

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10. 1883Broken Hill claim is pegged

    Charles Rasp pegged a claim at Broken Hill, initiating the development that led to the company’s creation.

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A globally diversified mining major built around large-scale, long-life and comparatively low-cost mineral assets, with strategic emphasis on iron ore, copper and future-facing commodities.

• Iron oreBulk commodities

  Iron ore is one of BHP’s core businesses and is primarily associated with its large Western Australian operations. The product is sold as an input for steelmaking and is produced, processed and transported through integrated mine, rail and port systems.

• CopperBase metals

  Copper is a central BHP commodity, with the Escondida mine in Chile forming a flagship asset. Copper serves electrical, construction, industrial and renewable-energy applications and has become increasingly important to BHP’s energy-transition strategy.

• Metallurgical coalBulk commodities

  BHP produces metallurgical coal used in blast-furnace steelmaking. The business has historically been an important part of the company’s diversified portfolio, although coal exposure has been subject to portfolio review and climate-related strategic pressure.

• NickelBase metals

  Nickel has been part of BHP’s Australian and international mining portfolio. The metal is used in stainless steel and some battery chemistries, while the economics of nickel operations have periodically led BHP to suspend, sell or reassess assets.

• PotashFertilizer minerals

  Potash represents BHP’s agricultural-minerals growth option. The company acquired Athabasca Potash and later sought to buy PotashCorp, but the proposed transaction was withdrawn in 2010. Potash remains associated with BHP’s longer-term diversification beyond traditional hard commodities.

• Petroleum and natural gasEnergy commodities

  BHP developed petroleum through exploration beginning in the 1950s and later expanded into Bass Strait oil and gas and United States shale assets. Petroleum was historically a significant diversification area, although the company’s portfolio has since become more concentrated in mining.

• Olympic Dam mineralsPolymetallic mining

  Olympic Dam in South Australia is a major polymetallic operation associated with copper, gold and uranium. BHP acquired the asset through WMC Resources and later deferred a large expansion while examining less capital-intensive development approaches.

• 2022Simplify corporate listing structureStrategy

  BHP reviewed the costs and complexity of maintaining its historic dual-listed company arrangement.

  What changed. The group relinquished its London Stock Exchange listing and became solely listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

  Aftermath. BHP retained its Australian public-company identity while simplifying its trading structure.

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• 2015Demerger of South32Strategy

  BHP sought to simplify its portfolio and separate a group of assets outside its preferred core businesses.

  What changed. Selected aluminium, coal, manganese, nickel and silver assets were transferred to South32.

  Aftermath. BHP became more concentrated around iron ore, copper, coal and selected growth commodities.

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• 2012Defer Olympic Dam expansionStrategy

  BHP reviewed the capital requirements and technical approach for expanding Olympic Dam.

  What changed. The company delayed the planned expansion and studied less capital-intensive alternatives.

  Aftermath. BHP also slowed other major growth options and froze approval of major new expansion projects.

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• 2010Withdraw PotashCorp acquisition bidM&A

  BHP sought to expand into potash, but the Canadian government opposed the proposed acquisition under foreign-investment rules.

  What changed. BHP withdrew its offer on 14 November 2010.

  Aftermath. The proposed expansion into one of the world’s largest fertilizer producers was abandoned.

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• 2008Withdraw Rio Tinto takeover proposalM&A

  BHP had sought to acquire Rio Tinto in an all-share transaction, but the global financial crisis increased financing and shareholder-value risks.

  What changed. BHP withdrew the proposed takeover on 25 November 2008.

  Aftermath. The transaction did not proceed, and BHP continued with a more selective portfolio approach.

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• 2015Olympic Games hospitality compliance caseControversy

  The United States Securities and Exchange Commission found deficiencies in BHP Billiton’s controls over a hospitality program that invited government and state-owned-enterprise officials to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. BHP agreed to pay a US$25 million civil penalty in connection with Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations.

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• Ok Tedi environmental disputeControversy

  BHP’s involvement in the Ok Tedi copper mine in Papua New Guinea led to severe criticism and litigation concerning environmental degradation and impacts on indigenous communities. Indigenous claimants successfully sued the company in relation to the mining impacts.

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• 2022BHP simplifies its listing structure

  BHP relinquished its London Stock Exchange listing and became solely listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

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• 2017Escondida labor strike affects copper shipments

  A labor dispute at the Escondida copper mine led to a strike, operational disruption and force-majeure declarations affecting shipments.

  OtherPricing
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• 2015BHP creates South32

  Selected aluminium, coal, manganese, nickel and silver assets were separated into South32, leaving BHP with a more concentrated portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2012Olympic Dam expansion delayed

  BHP deferred its large Olympic Dam expansion after reviewing capital intensity and less expensive development alternatives.

  Other
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• 2011BHP acquires Petrohawk Energy

  BHP purchased Petrohawk in a cash transaction, expanding its United States shale-gas portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2010BHP withdraws PotashCorp bid

  BHP withdrew its proposed acquisition of PotashCorp after the Canadian government moved toward rejecting the transaction under the Investment Canada Act.

  M&ARegulation
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• 2009BHP closes Ravensthorpe nickel mine

  The company suspended Ravensthorpe operations during a severe nickel-market downturn and subsequently sold the mine to First Quantum Minerals.

  Other
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• 2008BHP withdraws Rio Tinto takeover bid

  BHP abandoned its proposed acquisition of Rio Tinto after the global financial crisis increased the risks and financing pressures associated with the transaction.

  M&A
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• 2005BHP agrees to acquire WMC Resources

  BHP pursued and completed the acquisition of WMC Resources, gaining the Olympic Dam copper, gold and uranium operation and other assets.

  M&A
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• 2001BHP and Billiton complete merger

  The Australian Broken Hill Proprietary Company and Anglo-Dutch Billiton combined to create BHP Billiton through a dual-listed structure.

  M&A
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1. BHP