BHP complete first carbon neutral copper transaction

Delivery from mines in Chile to wire manufacturer in USA is group’s first carbon neutral undertaking.

Anglo-Australian mining firm BHP and US copper cable and wire manufacturer, Southwire, have completed their first carbon neutral copper transaction involving delivery from BHP’s mines in Chile to Southwire’s processing activities in Georgia, USA.

The pilot involved tracing BHP copper cathodes and associated greenhouse gas emissions through Southwire’s rod production operations, utilising supply chain traceability provider Circulor’s blockchain-based technology.

It is achieved by the retirement of high-quality carbon offsets against emissions from the production, transportation and Southwire’s processing of the designated copper shipments. The carbon offsets were sourced from a project in Peru that provides additional sustainability co-benefits, such as biodiversity conservation, improved water quality and support for local communities.

BHP’s Minerals Americas President, Rag Udd, said, ‘We are taking concrete action to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the copper value chain. Partnerships like the one with Southwire enable industry to collaboratively move forward in building a low-carbon world and to reduce emissions from existing products.’