BHP Billiton has announced that it would put the expansion of Olympic Dam on hold. The mine had been set to become the biggest open cut mine in the world and a major employer for South Australia.
BHP have said they will investigate cheaper designs for the proposed expansion but that they will not be ready by the December fifteen submission deadline set by the South Australian government.
BHP says the decision is due to wider factors in the world commodities market and did not mention Australia’s tax regime. Despite this Tony Abbott was quick to blame the Carbon Tax and the Gillard government.
To discuss the announcement was Aaron Cartledge, State Secretary at the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU).
