News

Issue 2 2019

Making a difference in the Pilbara.

In this Issue

Improving safety at Mt Whaleback Page 2

What’s new in Newman Page 3

Initiating Innovation Page 7

Update from South Flank Page 18

1 Improving the safety of our Tailings Storage Facilities A message from Scott Barber, General Manager of Newman Operations

We have very recently created a Our global tailings dams facilities We have established a team of new team dedicated to improving – including Whaleback in Western internal and external subject matter the safety of our Whaleback Tailings – have been thoroughly experts on the Whaleback tailings Storage Facility. assessed and meet international dam and over the coming months at safety standards. Whaleback, we will be implementing Since the failure of the Fundão tailings a comprehensive program of dam at in 2015, BHP has We are very confident that we have improvements to build on the existing significantly increased the rigour of the right controls and processes in controls in place at the site. its assessment and management of its place to ensure the ongoing integrity global tailings facilities. of the tailings dam - but we want to do more, and act with even greater care Our team is committed to safety Our Company is committed to an and attention to further mitigate risks across all our operations from ongoing process of continuous at our sites, and keep our employees our mine sites, offices and the improvement, and the recent and communities safe. tragedy at Vale’s operations communities we operate in. demonstrates why as an industry, we must act with even greater diligence to make sure these incidents do not happen.

2 What’s new in Newman?

Meet at your local – The Parnawarri Retail Centre

BHP’s $30 million Parnawarri pronounced “bun – We’d like to introduce you to our Parnawarri Retail Centre da – worry,” is from the traditional Parnawarri retail tenants, the Nyiyaparli language and means majority of whom have registered in Newman celebrated “all together” and “united.” with BHP’s Local Buying Program – its first birthday in The Parnawarri Retail Centre is which has been created to support November 2018 and Newman’s premier shopping small businesses in eligible regions destination for the community’s in their engagement with BHP. what a fantastic year grocery, food, recreation, health it has been for all and fashion needs. stakeholders!

3 Community events in Newman

The Shire of East Pilbara and BHP Welcome to Newman Newman Concert Series have renewed their Newman A free community event to bring Live events featuring touring Events partnership, with more to bring together residents old performers bringing new cultural and new and provide information experiences to town. community events scheduled for on what services and activities are the near future. available around town, including a NAIDOC Week tour of Mount Whaleback Mine and a Celebrating Aboriginal and Torres community BBQ and movie screening. This partnership plays an import role Strait Islander history, culture and in contributing to the liveability of the achievements and celebrating the town and encouraging community Newman Triathlon contribution of Indigenous Australians engagement, participation and A community sporting event which to our country and communities. township. consists of three legs (swim, bike and run). While the emphasis is on Reconciliation Week Ball Some of the events to look forward participation, there are prizes for An evening ball for adults which to include: fastest times in each category. builds on the respectful relationships Outback Fusion Festival shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Twilight Movie Series Islander people and other Australians. A three-day multicultural festival Catch 14 free outdoor movie This is a ticketed event. of food, music and art celebrating screenings, with community meals Newman’s diverse community and its and popcorn. unique outback location.

4 The Pilbara’s passionate people thinking big with BHP

Wherever BHP operates, we are Tania said the benefits of being a Whether it’s industry, government committed to ensuring we continually member of the Newman SEG have or the community, transparency and improve the way we work with our been enormous. two way engagement is paramount stakeholders. to achieving successful outcomes for “It’s extremely motivating to see the everyone involved. One way we accomplish this is ‘other side’ of BHP,” Tania said. through our Stakeholder Engagement Each SEG is a diverse group of people Groups (SEG) in PH and Newman, I was amazed at the access and who have a keen interest in their which help us better understand the local community and are able to level of detail BHP were sharing people we work alongside.” provide insightful perspectives on our with us. My participation in this operations and the mining industry as Tania Tucker has spent the past two group has given me a better a whole. decades living and working in the understanding of the technical Newman community. BHP hosts SEG forums up to four aspects of the company and how times a year, where members She is a mother of four, an they manage their operations. meet to discuss BHP related issues entrepreneur (starting her own and provide input into aspects clothing and florist business in “I also found the collaboration a great of the planning of our operating Newman) and is now a Business initiative to have BHP, local businesses environment, growth programs, Development Manager for the and the community all have their sustainable development and Newman Chamber of Commerce and say on issues and share them in a environmental and economic impacts. Industry. common forum. There is an application process to join Tania is also a vocal and passionate “After all, we all want to ensure the a SEG group, however all community member of BHP’s Newman ongoing prosperity and economic members who have an active interest Stakeholder Engagement Group. future of Newman for many more in the sustainable development of years.” the iron ore industry are welcome to apply.

For more information or to apply, contact seg@.com.

“After all, we all want to ensure the ongoing prosperity and economic future of Newman for many more years.”

Tania Tucker Business Development Manager, Newman Chamber of Commerce

5 Decreasing dust in Newman

Dust emissions at mine sites are BHP Project Engineer Rommel Mejia “We want to be industry leaders in not new, it’s something BHP has a has been leading this dust reduction dust management. What we’ve done project for the past three years and at Eastern Ridge is find a solution to long history of managing. said his team was very proud of the decrease dust at one source. It’s a results so far. small, yet significant step in the right Mining activities which are known to direction to limit dust emissions at our cause dust include haul roads, loading “It sounds simple, spray more water, mine sites.” and unloading activities, stockpiling but the issue is much more complex,” activities, pit activities and wind Rommel said. Rommel and his team are now erosion. working to roll out their system to “We know when ore is moist, it other BHP sites in the Pilbara. BHP’s team at Eastern Ridge in produces less dust. The challenge Newman has developed an innovative for us was finding the right way Last year, the Shire of East Pilbara process which has significantly to penetrate ore with water while became the first local government reduced dust emissions during the maintaining manageable ore moisture to launch their own dust monitoring loading, crushing and handling phase levels. Because if ore is too moist, it campaign. CEO Jeremy Edwards said of mining. becomes sludge-like and can cause he was interested to hear about the processing issues and subsequent strategies BHP has in place to mitigate More specifically, the team has delays in production. dust levels within the town. reduced dust produced at Ore Body 25 and our Ore Handling Plant. “We searched Australia-wide for dust “BHP regularly receive data from eight solutions, but could not find any monitors around Newman and have a The solution: spraying water on useful quantifiable data, so we had to team of people dedicated to assisting top and beneath ore profiles as think outside of the box. in minimising any environmental they fall inside processing chutes impacts to the community.” Jeremy and autonomously monitoring and said. managing ore moisture levels.

6 Initiating Innovation A collaborative approach to the future of mining

Advances in technology Now, our smartphones have more “Our team has chosen storage and processing power than can, and have changed the first space ship which travelled to to make our Eastern the way we live and the moon, and at any moment we can Ridge mine site in access a seemingly unlimited amount how we work – at times of information with a few swipes and Newman the location taps of our fingers, something people without us even noticing could only dream of less than 20 years where we test and trial the change. ago. our new innovations.

The power and ability of your Think about your mobile phone – or smartphone didn’t happen overnight, what we now call a smartphone. it evolved as technology improved. “Eastern Ridge is our proving ground The first mobile phone was introduced BHP is adopting a similar methodology in Australia in 1987. It was big, bulky, when it comes to innovation in its for new technology weighed more than half a kilogram workplace and at its mine sites. and it could only make and receive and it’s an exciting and receive calls – but it was BHP General Manager Newman opportunity for our innovative and it would go on to Operations Scott Barber said to change the way people communicate, succeed in the future of resources, employees and the work and essentially go about their we must be bolder, adapt faster and community as we daily lives. embrace change. begin this innovation “Innovation through advancements and technology in technology will undoubtedly bring change, as well as new and exciting journey. opportunities for the mining industry and for the people who make it happen,” Scott said.

7 Innovation initiatives are just a small part of BHP’s commitment to becoming safer and more inclusive and productive.

The beauty of innovation is what you don’t see - BHP’s Jamie Bennett

8 “Our School Based Traineeships give students hands on experience at our mine sites.”

Scott Barber BHP General Manager of Newman Operations

9 Initiating Innovation (cont.)

What does innovation and “Before we can initiate physical “We are already building relationships technology look like? changes on site, we need to have and engagement programs with a real-time information about our variety of Pilbara stakeholders as processes. well as programs with local schools BHP’s Jamie Bennett Eastern Ridge to educate children and have is responsible for overseeing all “Our teams are hard at work conversations about what the future innovation projects at ER and says the developing systems to capture and of mining will look like and skills beauty of innovation is what you don’t read this data so we are able to use required to work in the industry. see. it to improve our daily routines and make operations safer. “Our school based traineeship at “When it comes to innovation and Newman Senior High School is a technology at Eastern Ridge, our “We see these innovations as the first perfect example of this.” focus is on data,” Jamie said. steps – akin to the first mobile phone – which will set us on a course where “We are deep diving into our technology plays a major role in how Through this program we are operations to find out what data we operate. able to give students hands on, we can create, record, monitor, skill specific experience and understand and manipulate to help What does this mean for us work smarter, safer and more knowledge that accurately reflects efficiently. the workforce? the typical work undertaken at our mine sites. Scott Barber said BHP’s ability to We’ve been testing innovative successfully embrace and utilise technology and concepts at technology relies on our current and “It’s a great introduction to our Eastern Ridge for the past twelve future workforce as well as our local industry, and where our tradespeople, communities. months, but to the naked eye, the as mentors assist students to complete their training and work mine site looks exactly the same. “Our people will be the ones to make their way to certifications in a range technological changes happen,” Scott of industries, such as automotive, said. engineering and technology. “What you don’t see are the sensors and monitoring equipment we are “This means the skills required to work “We hope through these types of creating and using to gather data in the mining industry will change too initiatives, we can deliver continued about our operations. – and the skills people think they need growth and development by bringing to have to work in mining today may the community into the workplace “Examples include improving our live be very different to the skills needed and transforming our workplace into a mine scheduling and monitoring pay in the future. community.” load distribution on our trucks, both of which rely heavily on real-time data “This is why we are committed to Innovation initiatives such as the work analysis. working with our current and future underway at Eastern Ridge are just a workforce as well as the community small part of a larger Company wide in Newman to bring them along this commitment to transform to a safer, innovative journey. more productive, more diverse and ultimately more sustainable BHP.

10 Your voice matters: BHP and CSIRO launch Local Voices community engagement initiative

BHP has engaged “We have committed to use the Community groups are also community insights from the Local encouraged to access, share and Australia’s national Voices project in our decision- use the data to help with their own science agency, CSIRO, making,” Ms van Kampen said. planning and reporting needs,” Dr Moffat said. to provide communities “While we may not be able to solve every issue raised, CSIRO will share For every survey completed, neighbouring BHP’s the results with the community and community members can assign operations an our business to ensure we are better credits to not-for-profit groups that informed on the things that matter will accrue over time. These may be opportunity to most to our local communities.” cashed in for a donation by these groups. express their views CSIRO will also conduct brief, five- and experiences to minute Pulse surveys every month for three years to track key issues CSIRO Local Voices is a way to the company through identified in the Anchor survey and help communities engage with CSIRO’s Local Voices allow CSIRO and BHP to see how companies that operate alongside things change for communities over them. initiative. time.

Individual participant responses are The approach allows a dynamic always kept confidential. CSIRO will Launched on March 5 with the initial interaction between company and provide the Local Voices survey data survey in the Pilbara, Local Voices community that aims to increase in an aggregated form to BHP and the will provide a regular opportunity understanding on all sides, build communities through the Local Voices for BHP to better understand local trust and strengthen relationships for website. views and to help build trust through better community outcomes. actions, according to BHP Manager Communities , CSIRO Local Voices Project Leader, Danielle van Kampen. Kieren Moffat, said the Local Voices project aims to provide value to local The ongoing project will see monthly communities. CSIRO is running a series of Local surveys conducted in Hedland and Voices projects around Australia. Newman to provide a snapshot of life “By taking part in Local Voices you will in a mining region, with respondents not only express your views on BHP To register your not-for-profit opinions sought across a range of and the company’s activities but you’ll group for rewards, or to register issues. immediately benefit local not-for- profit community groups through a your interest in participating rewards program. in the survey, go to research.csiro.au/bhplocalvoices

11 Community Building Surveys trust through actions Data Collection

How

Feeling Local Voices Heard Works Analysis

Listening, Reporting Learning

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With 19 tugs and 4 different types, we have a high degree of flexibilty for different types of jobs.

Not only do we have highly trained crews, we provide over 99% on time service delivery and have one of the world’s best in class tug haven facilities. To us that’s big!

12 Rail tracks head to farmers

Our WA Iron Ore Rail team “BHP has a long and proud history of I’m extremely proud continues to show their supporting the communities in which we operate. We regularly donate steel to be a part of this community spirit. Up to 800 to local farmers and pastoralists in project. It’s always great tonnes of used rail made its way the wider Pilbara area. To have the to Queensland to help struggling opportunity to go a bit broader to when the teams come farmers rebuild fences following Queensland is a great way of show casing the community spirit here at together to deliver on devastating floods in February. BHP,” he said. a project like this so

A collaboration between BHP, Sims “It’s hard to imagine what the people quickly, especially when Metals and WA Truck Drivers, the in Queensland experienced when it’s something that will scrap will be turned into fencing for Michael King contacted us, we were properties and stockyards. happy to help out.” really make a difference

Rail Execution Manager Glenn Mel McDonald, Continuous to people. Osborne says that while it was Improvement Lead, Rail, who helped challenging from a logistics point with the approvals for this project, of view, the Rail team has come said the used rail will mean a lot to the together, including people who have community in Queensland who have donated their time, to help bring this been through a drought and are now project to reality. dealing with floods.

WA Iron Ore Rail team continues to show their community spirit.

13 Supporting local businesses through staff recognition

A new recognition and reward BHP’s General Manager for Rail, “Already there is a real buzz going on system has been launched in Port Michael Bailey said more businesses with people talking about the initiative would be added as the initiative gains within our teams on site and out in the Hedland which will increase BHP’s momentum. community – everyone is excited to support of Pilbara businesses. get this project off the ground.” “We’re committed to supporting the Our people leaders are now able growth of local business and our local BHP’s Local Buying program was to reward high performing team economy through direct and indirect expanded to the Pilbara in late 2017 members with $30 gift vouchers to opportunities,” he said. and it enables small local businesses spend at local businesses. to supply goods and services to BHP, “This new voucher initiative is a with a dedicated buying platform and reduced payment terms of 21 days Our employees and contractors great way for us to support the can earn gift vouchers for excelling from receipt of invoice (average 15 Pilbara community, while also in safety and performance and days). can spend them at a wide range of encouraging our employees to buy businesses thanks to the Local Buying local – it’s a win-win situation.” Businesses who employ less than Program, which is delivered via a 20 FTE’s with a significant physical presence near BHP’s operations strategic partnership between C-Res Administration Officer Jen Scroggie, and BHP can be eligible to be a part of the was the first employee to be program. Nearly $7.0M in approved awarded a voucher for her continued Local businesses participating in the spend (Pilbara project to date) has outstanding efforts in the Local Buying pilot program include Hai’s Coffee, been awarded through the program, Program. She spent her voucher at Ginger Fox, Hedland Emporium, with over 220 local and Aboriginal local clothing and accessories store, PHYSIOlogical Training, Pharmacy 777 Traditional Owner businesses Ginger Fox. Port Hedland, Charmers Jewellers, registered. Port Hedland Yacht Club, Oceania- “It’s a terrific feeling to not only be Lee Hair Design, Lil’s Retravision and recognised within my team but then To find out more: Hedland Harbour Café. to be able to use the gift vouchers to localbuying.com.au give back to the community and buy local,” she said.

“We’re committed to supporting the growth of local business and our local economy through direct and indirect opportunities,”

Michael Bailey General Manager for Rail

14 BHP Local Buying Program WA record- breaking Indigenous package of work

Pilbara Aboriginal Traditional Owner “BHP’s Local Buying Program is BHP’s Local Buying Program, delivered business, Gumala Enterprise Pty proving itself to be an effective by C-Res is a full procurement-to- Ltd recently completed a landmark tool, which allows our teams to be pay portal which allows small, local contract supporting work on a project proactive and innovative when it eligible businesses and Pilbara at BHP’s site, which comes to sourcing and supporting Aboriginal businesses to engage created approximately 20 jobs, and local and Indigenous businesses,” Phil with BHP for direct competitive high Aboriginal employment. said contracting opportunities, valued at less than $US2 million. These Gumala Enterprises is 100 percent “It’s fantastic to see Aboriginal businesses benefit from the Local owned by Gumala Aboriginal Traditional Owner businesses working Buying Program’s payment terms Corporation, representing the on their country and we hope to see of 21 days from receipt of invoice Banjima, Nyiyaparli and Yinhawangka many more opportunities like these (averaging 15 days at present). people, based in Tom Price. across our sites.”

BHP Superintendent Projects, BHP is committed to contributing to Contracts & Procurement (Mines), Indigenous economic empowerment, Fintan McDermott, said the agreement a vision CEO Andrew Mackenzie is currently the largest single contract shared at a CEDA event in January. You can learn more about awarded through BHP’s new Local the Local Buying Program at: Buying Program for Western Australia. “At BHP we encourage our Indigenous employees, suppliers and partners to localbuying.com.au “Our project team identified an have a voice, but we know we must do opportunity to ‘carve out’ a section more,” Andrew said. from our larger Yandi project to create a direct opportunity for a local “While mining benefits our whole contractor, via the BHP Local Buying nation, business, government and Program,” Fintan said. communities all need to make sure that this flows to local communities. “The opportunity identified was for a local contractor to take on the sorting and stockpiling of site produced rock “We know we must do armour to support the construction of more to increase the the flood protection bunds.” size of our Indigenous Phil Jefferys who is BHP’s Head of workforce and engage Strategy, Community and Planning said BHP is fully committed to more Indigenous Indigenous contracting and economic businesses.” empowerment.

15 16 Community cleans up after Veronica

In March, Port Hedland and BHP Emergency Safety Officers BHP and other major employers surrounding towns and and employees were on high alert provide support to a number of local throughout the cyclone and made agencies including the Town of Port communities were hit by Tropical sure employees and community Hedland, St John Ambulance, Care for Cyclone Veronica. members had adequate shelter for Hedland and others. when the cyclone hit. Reaching as high as a category four The Pilbara community is renowned system, the cyclone brought winds Once the cyclone had passed, for coming together to help support in excess of 100km per hour and the clean-up and recovery job the clean-up and recovery process torrential rain through the Pilbara began immediately, with local BHP following a major cyclone event and coast, damaging houses and trees as employees and other residents all Cyclone Veronica was no exception. well as bringing floods to low lying lending a hand. areas. Thank you to everyone who lent a helping hand.

BHP helped out the Port Hedland community by: • Filling and distributing Sandbags • Donating a 4WD ambulance which responded to 13 medical cases • Clearing debris in the main street and West End • Cleaning up around town parks and facilities and; • Establishing a volunteer register connecting people and activities where help was needed.

17 South Flank Big news for the Pilbara

Set to be one of the world’s largest “Recently, we awarded a $7.3 million “We see South Flank as an iron ore hubs, the South Flank contract to Njamal People and opportunity to accelerate project is now a quarter way through Pilbara Resources Group for dust an inclusive and diverse schedule, heading for first ore in 2021. suppression. We’re deliberate about making sure Pilbara-based businesses workforce, and it goes beyond Local businesses are mobilising to site have the opportunity to benefit from gender. We want a workforce as construction ramps up. Located South Flank. Our contractors are clear mix at South Flank that is approximately 130 kilometres north- on our expectations of subcontracting more representative of the west of Newman, the South Flank to local suppliers, and initiatives like deposit itself is vast – 26 kilometres our Local Buying Program make it communities in which we live. “ long, and requiring significant mining possible for the smaller businesses to infrastructure and operations. participate.” South Flank will create Simon Thomas, South Flank Project “It’s pretty exciting. We’re creating about 2500 jobs Director said the project means something big. South Flank will be the hundreds of local jobs and billions largest iron ore mining and processing during construction of dollars flowing into the Western facility built in more than 50 years of and about 600 Australian economy. iron ore mining in the Pilbara. We’re also integrating the latest advances ongoing operational “We’ve committed a huge $2.1 billion in autonomous-ready fleets, digital roles. The mine is in contract awards so far, with 78 connectivity and modular design. per cent of work committed for expected to produce completion in Western Australia – more than half of which will be ore for more than Pilbara-based,” Simon said. 25 years.

1818 Do you have an issue with our operations? Call 1800 421 077

If you notice something is not quite right and you think it may have to do with our port, mining or rail operations then BHP has a Pilbara Community Contact line that offers a 24 hour service 7 days a week to register your concern.

For more information

Contact Corporate Affairs on 6321 0151 or email [email protected] bhp.com

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