BHP Billiton updates on Olympic Dam repairs
09 November 2009
BHP Billiton reported that "repair work to damaged equipment is well advanced" at the Clark shaft of its Olympic Dam underground copper and uranium mine in South Australia. The ore haulage system in the main shaft of the mine was damaged in an incident in early October. BHP Billiton said that the haulage system's winder has now been removed and will shortly be sent for repairs. It also said that temporary equipment will be commissioned on 18 November that will allow repair work to commence inside the Clark shaft. The company noted that ore production is continuing via the secondary Whenan shaft, which is hoisting about 25% of production, and trials are beginning soon on trucking some ore to the surface via the existing decline. BHP Billiton said that the temporary closure of the Clark shaft has enabled the company to bring forward "significant maintenance work" originally scheduled for 2010, including a major smelter reline. The rescheduled maintenance work is set to begin on 16 November and run until mid-January. The company said that it still expects Olympic Dam to return to full production no later than by the end of March 2010.