The Hydrofloat Project is part of BHP’s broader strategy to lift copper recovery rates and extend the operational life of its Carrapateena mine. Designed to extract valuable copper particles from tailings previously lost in the process stream, the facility marks a significant leap in sustainable mining.
The plant integrates coarse flotation technology into the existing concentrator without major rework to the circuit – enabling a projected 2.5 to 4% uplift in recovery. Importantly, this is achieved without increasing extraction rates, meaning more copper from less waste.
For PHE Group, this was a technically complex and program-driven job, requiring detailed integration of electrical and instrumentation systems within a live, vertical plant structure. A tight program, delayed inputs, and limited access called for adaptive sequencing, frontline problem-solving, and disciplined commissioning to maintain schedule and system integrity.
Aerial photo courtesy of BHP.