BHP quietly scrapped plan to build Pilbara plant that would have drastically cut emissions

Exclusive: Jimblebar processing facility would have produced higher quality iron ore sought by steelmakers around the world – themselves under pressure to curb pollution World’s biggest miner BHP backtracks on climate action with key projects put on ice, leaked documents reveal Read more from the BHP files investigation here Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast BHP quietly dumped plans for an iron ore processing facility that would have cut emissions drastically, despite internally rating it as having “excellent social value” and being “well-aligned” to its shareholder-endorsed climate plan and decarbonisation targets. In 2025 the mining giant was well advanced in its plans to build a beneficiation plant near its Jimblebar open-cut mine in the Pilbara, which would greatly improve the purity and quality of its iron ore. BHP knew higher quality iron ore was desired by steelmakers across the globe, including in China, where government pressure has forced the industry to reduce its emissions. Using higher quality iron ore is one of the cheapest ways for steelmakers to reduce their emissions. The Jimblebar facility appeared to be a win-win for the miner. The highe