BHP selects seven companies to accelerate copper and nickel exploration

(Posted on 23/01/23)

BHP Xplor, an accelerator programme introduced by BHP in August 2022, has announced its first cohort. The first cohort of seven has been selected out of hundreds of applications received from all around the world, all focused on discovering the copper, nickel and other critical minerals needed to support the energy transition.

The seven companies have been selected to receive funding and support under the BHP Xplor accelerator program, which is designed to help provide participants with the opportunity to accelerate their growth and the potential to establish a long-term partnership with BHP and our global network of partners. The programme will offer candidates funding, in-kind services, mentorship and coaching, and opportunities with BHP’s network of suppliers and service providers.

BHP Xplor Vice President, Sonia Scarselli, Vice President, said: “We are amazed by the diversity and quality of the submissions we reviewed and selected. We are confident that the BHP Xplor program will support the seven companies chosen to accelerate their concepts and ideas, to help take it to the next level.”

BHP Xplor will also provide BHP the opportunity to access some of the most exciting exploration prospects globally, including new geographies and geologic concepts beyond what we see today, helping to drive our pipeline of new opportunities to shape our future asset portfolio.

BHP Chief Development Officer, Johan van Jaarsveld said: “Through this program, we hope to create disruptive results in copper and nickel exploration by identifying new concepts, leveraging new data and testing opportunities at a much faster pace than discoveries to date.”

Each company will receive up to US$500,000 cash payment from BHP, together with access to a network of internal and external experts to help guide development across technical, business and operational aspects of the company.

The seven companies selected to join the BHP Xplor accelerator program are:

Tutume Metals – a private, junior exploration company with secured ground searching for critical minerals in Botswana.

Impact Minerals – a junior explorer listed on the Australian Stock Exchange with a variety of battery metals projects across Australia.

Asian Battery Minerals – a junior exploration company focused on finding economic deposits of critical minerals in the Asia Pacific region.

Red Ox Copper – a private minerals exploration group in Australia, specialising in generating grassroots, greenfield conceptual plays with potential for tier 1 ore deposits.

Bronzite Exploration Corp - an early-stage exploration for copper in northern Canada. Spearheaded by Prof. James Mungall, experienced field and economic geologist at Carleton University, Ottawa.

Nordic Nickel – a brand new nickel sulphide explorer, listed on the Australia Stock Exchange and focused on two projects in Northern Finland, in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt.

Kingsrose Mining – a junior exploration company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange with regional projects in Norway and Finland targeting nickel, copper and platinum group elements.

Latest News

Italian steel handling specialist Transped boosts efficiency

Transped S.p.A. has ordered a Konecranes Gottwald Generation 6 mobile harbour crane to expand its handling... Read more

Cargill transforms Singapore Innovation Center to meet evolving needs

To advance innovation and further contribute to Asia’s vibrant food ecosystem, Cargill is bolstering... Read more

Cargill surpasses one million enrolled acres in Cargill RegenConnect

Cargill RegenConnect has surpassed one million enrolled acres for the 2025 U.S. planting season, a milestone... Read more

Agreements to accelerate decarbonisation of steelmaking in Europe

Rio Tinto has entered into definitive agreements with GravitHy, an early-stage industrial company, to... Read more

Partnership to trial battery swap technology in mine operations

Rio Tinto will partner with China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) to demonstrate battery... Read more

Colombian nature-based carbon removals project is expanded

Trafigura Group, a market leader in the global commodities industry, has announced a significant expansion... Read more

Rio Tinto completes acquisition of Sumitomo stake in NZAS

Rio Tinto’s previously announced acquisition of Sumitomo Chemical Company’s (SCC’s... Read more

Vale and Jinnan announce investment in Oman iron ore concentration plant

Vale and Jinnan Iron & Steel Group, a renowned Chinese steelmaker, have announced a joint partnership... Read more

Canadian tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminium products enter into force

Tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminium products have entered into force following rigorous examination... Read more

Increased copper and iron ore production for BHP

BHP have released their operational review for the quarter ended 30 September 2024.BHP Chief Executive... Read more