The boss of BHP's Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine, Laura Tyler, says a decision by the South Australian government to grant any expansion of the mine's "major development status" was a positive move, as the company crunches the numbers ahead of a likely decision late in 2020 on whether a $2.7 billion expansion might proceed.
The official declaration by the SA government on Thursday is a first procedural step and underlines the importance of the mine to the state economy.
Ms Tyler, who took over the running of the Olympic Dam operations last year from former boss Jacqui McGill, said the declaration was the first step in a comprehensive state and federal process that included assessment of potential social, economic and environmental impacts associated with an increase in mining and production from 200,000 tonnes per annum to up to 350,000 tonnes per annum.
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