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More than 800 BHP workers redeployed

It’s been a big 12 months for the world’s largest miner, as revealed yesterday when BHP shared details of a major redeployment campaign.

In July last year, BHP announced its decision to temporarily suspend its Nickel West and West Musgrave operations in Western Australia.

BHP cited a global downturn in nickel prices at the time, which were caused by a flood of nickel supply from countries like Indonesia and China.

The operations had been under the microscope since January that year, when BHP declared it would weigh up its options to mitigate the effects of the decline.

Once the decision to close was made, the wheels were set in motion and BHP said it would offer up to 1600 employees redundancy packages or redeployment.

Yesterday, in its 2024–25 half financial year operational review (FY25), BHP chief executive Mike Henry said the company is on a “clear pathway to growth”.

“BHP delivered safe and reliable performance in the first half (of FY25),” Henry said.

“We are well positioned to continue strong momentum into the second half with a number of assets now expected to deliver production in the upper half of their respective ranges, while maintaining tight cost control.

“BHP is in good shape and we have a clear pathway for growth.”

The Big Australian included its shuttered nickel operations in its optimism for the future, reiterating it will review its decision to suspend production by February 2027.

In the meantime, BHP said over 800 employees have been redeployed from its nickel portfolio to other roles across its Australian and international operations.

With production uplifts across the board for BHP in the first half of FY25, including copper, iron ore and steelmaking coal, its redeployed workers are in good stead.

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