BHP Group Limited is a leading natural resources company based in Melbourne, Australia, with a long and successful history in the mining industry dating back to 1851. BHP is one of the largest companies in Australia, and BHP operates in countries around the world.
The company is engaged in various mineral exploration, mining and processing activities, including zinc, copper, silver, uranium, molybdenum, gold, iron ore and coal. BHP also has a presence in refining and smelting nickel and potash. They are also engaged in development activities that revolve around the mining industry. The company provides towing, freight, marketing support, finance, marketing and trading, administrative and other services. With a global workforce of over 80,000 people, BHP is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion.
BHP is well-positioned to capitalize on the growth and demand for commodities. BHP operates in critical growth markets, providing innovation and sustainability. This operating principle has helped BHP become one of the largest mining companies in the world.
BHP has roots in Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP), incorporated in 1885. The first consignment of Broken Hill ore was smelted in Spotswood, Victoria, in June of 1885. In 1915, BHP diversified into steel manufacturing, building a manufacturing facility in Newcastle, New South Wales. In 2001, BHP merged with Billiton, a mining company founded in the 1860s in the Netherlands, becoming BHP Billiton.
In August 2016, BHP Billiton recorded the worst annual loss in its history, at $6.4 billion. In 2017, BHP Billiton began to rebrand itself as BHP and announced plans to sell its U.S. shale oil and gas business. In July 2018, BHP Billiton completed the sale of its Fayetteville Onshore U.S. gas assets to a wholly owned subsidiary of Merit Energy Company. In August 2021, BHP announced plans to exit the oil and gas industry by merging its hydrocarbon business with Woodside Petroleum.
BHP has been part of several controversies, such as the Ok Tedi environmental disaster, Bento Rodrigues tailings dam collapse and allegations of drawing waters above the granted limit from aquifers. In response to a sexual harassment and assault investigation in 2021, the company terminated or removed 48 workers from multiple sites.
BHP is constantly striving to ensure responsible and ethical mining activities while also working toward reducing its environmental impact. As a significant player in the natural resources industry, BHP is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for commodities worldwide while continuing to be a leader and innovator in the mining sector.