The Traditional Owners of the land on which BHP's Prominent Hill copper mine operates have secured a $60 million contract to deliver core mining services at the site, the largest standalone contract BHP has awarded to a Traditional Owner business in South Australia.
AMY Nominees, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal Corporation (AMYAC), will provide labour and management for run of mine services at Prominent Hill over five years under the deal, announced by BHP general manager engineering, infrastructure and services for Copper SA, Jess Balasso, at the Tactic Conference and Trade Expo in Port Augusta on Wednesday.
AMY Nominees general manager operations Lee Emmett said the contract followed more than two years of work between the two organisations.
"From the first constructive site visit with BHP in March 2024, we have worked closely with our partners to develop our team and improve our operational capacity to enable us to secure the ROM contract in July 2026," Mr Emmett said.
"We look forward to working closely with BHP for many years to come, providing positive outcomes for the AMYAC community."
Ms Balasso told the conference, with AMY Nominees representatives in the room, that the outcome "has been years in the making".
"Thiess, our long-standing partner has played an important role, supporting operational success, skills development and employment opportunities within the AMY community. Through training, experience and partnership, AMY Nominees has built the capability to take on increasingly complex work," she said.
"It will help unlock meaningful employment, support skills development and create pathways for future generations to participate in the mining sector.
"Above all, it reflects the power of genuine partnership, long-term thinking and investment in people."
BHP spent $112 million with Indigenous suppliers last financial year, alongside $292 million with local suppliers in the Upper Spencer Gulf region and Roxby Downs, figures Ms Balasso said the company was actively increasing.
Prominent Hill is one of three underground mines in BHP's Copper SA province alongside Olympic Dam and Carrapateena, created through the company's $9.6 billion acquisition of OZ Minerals. The province produced 321,000 tonnes of copper last financial year, and BHP plans to lift South Australian output to 500,000 tonnes and potentially 650,000 tonnes a year through the 2030s.
At Prominent Hill, a 1.3 kilometre deep shaft and materials handling system are due to come online later this year, moving the operation from truck haulage to shaft hoisting.
Mr Emmett said the transition builds on eight years of groundwork.
"AMY Nominees acknowledges the positive relationship and significant support we have received from Thiess in the past 8 years, and how that has helped build our capability and support the transition, setting AMY Nominees up for the future in terms of partnering with BHP to create shared value outcomes over the life of the mine," he said.
