BHP will scale down production at its Yandi iron-ore mine in the Pilbara as the ore body nears depletion and has started to inform its workers, according to a recent report by the Western Mineworkers’ Alliance (WMWA) .
“Yandi’s production profile has steadily ramped down in recent years, and we now need to adjust the mine plan to meet current and future operational requirements,” a BHP spokesperson told ABC News.
The company will consult further with the Yandi workforce before it can determine how many jobs will be lost.
The WMWA said it would hold BHP to account for ensuring that the wind-down process is fair and transparent.
The mine employs approximately 650 direct employees and 200 contractors. BHP plans to scale back operations over 2026 before ceasing altogether.
WMWA spokesperson Brad Gandy said: “This is a deeply unsettling time for hundreds of hardworking people who’ve given years of service to BHP.”
The union will meet with BHP to ensure that workers’ concerns are central to the company’s plans about the site’s wind down.
“We’ll be demanding that every affected member is given a genuine choice—whether that’s redeployment within BHP or a fair and decent redundancy package,” Gandy said.
“Our priority is making sure no one is left behind.”
