BHP Group Limited BHP to retain New South Wales Energy Coal (0678P)

TIDMBHP

RNS Number : 0678P

BHP Group Limited

16 June 2022

NEWS RELEASE

 
Release Time     IMMEDIATE 
Date             15 June 2022 
Release Number   21/22 
 

Coal divestment review update - BHP to retain New South Wales Energy Coal

BHP today announced that it will retain New South Wales Energy Coal (NSWEC) in its portfolio, seek the relevant approvals to continue mining beyond its current mining consent that expires in 2026 and proceed with a managed process to cease mining at the asset by the end of the 2030 financial year.

The decision follows BHP's review of its lower grade metallurgical and energy coal assets that was announced in August 2020 and has also resulted in the divestment of our interests in Cerrejón and BHP Mitsui Coal (BMC) in January and May 2022 respectively.

A trade sale process for NSWEC was conducted however the process did not result in a viable offer. Assessment of the resource economics, geotechnical profile and future investment requirements determined that continued mining in the near term and moving to a closure in 2030 provides the optimal financial outcome when compared to alternate options.

Continuation of mining to the end of FY2030 will afford eight years to work with our people, state and federal governments and local communities in the Hunter Valley region on a transition approach that supports long-term community sustainability.

Plans to continue operating NSWEC to FY2030 are subject to obtaining relevant approvals to enable mining beyond the current consent, which only provides approval for mining until 2026. Work is underway to prepare the application for the relevant approvals with the New South Wales and Australian governments to support mining until 2030. This will also include plans for closure of the asset, including rehabilitation and determining the most appropriate post-mining land use. It is expected that continued work on rehabilitation will take 10 to 15 years following the cessation of mining. The provision for closure of the mine as at 31 December 2021 was approximately US$700 million.

Minerals Australia President, Edgar Basto said "We thoroughly reviewed potential options for NSWEC including divestment and future investment requirements. Seeking approval to continue mining until 2030 avoids closure in 2026 and enables BHP to balance the value and risk of those considerations and our commitments to our people and local communities."

NSWEC Vice President, Adam Lancey said "We will work with our people, local business partners, Traditional Owners and local and state governments to operate safely and productively, prepare for closure and sustainable rehabilitation of the site, and ensure the pathway to closure is managed in a way that meets community and regulatory expectations."

About NSWEC

The New South Wales Energy Coal (NSWEC) asset comprises the Mt Arthur Coal operation, which is located near Muswellbrook, New South Wales. Mt Arthur Coal is operated by Hunter Valley Energy Coal, an entity ultimately owned by BHP Group Limited.

Further information on BHP can be found at: bhp.com

Authorised for lodgement by:

Stefanie Wilkinson

Group Company Secretary

 
Media Relations                       Investor Relations 
 
 Email: [e-mail]        Email: [e-mail] 
 
Australia and Asia                    Australia and Asia 
 Gabrielle Notley 
 Tel: [phone]                  Dinesh Bishop 
 Mobile: [phone]               Mobile: [phone] 
 Europe, Middle East and Africa 
 Neil Burrows 
 Tel: [phone]                 Europe, Middle East and Africa 
 Mobile: [phone] 
 Americas                              James Bell 
                                       Tel: [phone] 
 Renata Fernandaz                      Mobile: [phone] 
 Mobile: [phone] 
                                       Americas 
 
                                       Sabrina Goulart 
                                       Mobile: [phone] 
 
BHP Group Limited ABN 49 004 
 028 077 
 LEI WZE1WSENV6JSZFK0JC28 
 Registered in Australia 
 Registered Office: Level 18, 
 171 Collins Street 
 Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia 
 Tel [phone] Fax +61 
 3 9609 3015 
 
BHP Group which is headquartered in Australia 
 Follow us on social media 
 
 

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [e-mail] or visit www.rns.com.

RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.

END

MSCGPUPCQUPPPWA

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 16, 2022 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)