BHP (ASX:BHP) Russia sanctions put a rocket under BHPs copper outlook [Video]

Mining giant BHP is ramping up its copper output as fresh sanctions on the movement of the key energy-transition mineral out of Russia squeeze existing supply.

Copper volumes increased by 10 per cent from BHP’s newly merged South Australia operations, while its mines in Chile improved grades and hit production records in the third quarter, BHP chief executive Mike Henry said in an update on Thursday.

BHP established a lucrative copper ‘province’ in South Australia when it took over Oz Minerals last year.

“We remain on track to meet copper, iron ore and energy coal production for the year,” Henry said.

Global miners like BHP and Rio Tinto are concentrating their efforts on “future-facing” elements such as copper, which are increasingly sought after …