Monadelphous Wins A$200 Million BHP Contract to Expand Nelson Point Iron Ore Capacity

Australian engineering company Monadelphous Group has secured a A$200 million (US$141 million) construction contract from BHP to support the expansion of iron ore handling infrastructure at the Nelson Point Port Facility in Port Hedland, Western Australia.

The contract forms part of BHP’s Port Debottlenecking Project 2 (PDP2), a strategic investment designed to strengthen the efficiency and reliability of the company’s export operations while maintaining its medium-term iron ore production target of 305 million tonnes per year (Mt/y).

Under the agreement, Monadelphous will undertake the installation and commissioning of all structural, mechanical, piping, electrical and instrumentation works associated with the construction of Car Dumper 6 (CD6) and its supporting materials handling infrastructure.

Construction activities will begin immediately, with project completion scheduled for 2028.

Monadelphous Managing Director Zoran Bebic said the award reflects the company’s longstanding relationship with BHP and its proven ability to deliver large-scale mining infrastructure projects safely and efficiently.

The new contract follows the appointment of Fluor’s Mining & Metals business in late 2025 to provide engineering, procurement and construction management services for PDP2. Fluor’s scope includes overseeing the installation of the sixth car dumper, additional conveyor systems and associated infrastructure that will increase operational flexibility at the port.

Once completed, Car Dumper 6 is expected to significantly enhance Nelson Point’s material handling capacity, enabling the port to operate with at least five car dumpers available more than 90% of the time. The expanded capacity will help reduce operational bottlenecks, improve equipment availability and support the efficient movement of iron ore from BHP’s Pilbara mines to global export markets.

Nelson Point remains one of the world’s largest bulk export terminals and plays a critical role in BHP’s iron ore supply chain. The latest investment underscores the mining giant’s commitment to maintaining reliable export capacity while improving productivity across its Western Australian operations.

The project also highlights continued investment in Australia’s mining infrastructure as producers modernise key logistics assets to support long-term production and meet sustained global demand for iron ore.