BHP Group to trim headcount in global restructure

BHP Group is reportedly planning to restructure its global teams by moving roles related to planning, environment and heritage protection to asset-level management, Reuters reported.

This strategic shift is aimed at enhancing productivity and reducing operational costs, particularly within its Australian workforce, as highlighted by CEO Mike Henry.

A BHP spokesperson was quoted by the news agency as saying: “As part of our continuous improvement in how we approach our work, we have made some changes to better align work activities within assets and support quicker decision making.”

This restructuring will affect BHP’s operations across Australia and the Americas, although the exact number of jobs impacted remains undisclosed.

The Australian Financial Review has reported job cuts in the stand-alone planning and technical division, as well as the health, safety and environment unit.

Under the new structure, operational asset heads will assume responsibility for health, safety, environment, planning, heritage management, decarbonisation and rehabilitation.

BHP’s Australian assets such as Western Australian (WA) iron ore, Nickel West, and others, along with its Chilean copper mines and Canadian potash operations, are expected to be impacted directly due to these changes.

Additionally, warehousing and logistics roles will transition to site-specific functions, and operational decarbonisation efforts will be managed by national teams supporting assets in each country.

BHP will maintain group-level teams for health, safety and security, sustainability and social value, and its maintenance centre of excellence to ensure standardisation and governance, according to the new agency.

Earlier this month, BHP unveiled its plan to shut down its Nickel West operations in WA, attributing the decision to a significant decline in nickel prices.

This move could put thousands of jobs on the line, according to media sources.

The mining giant is currently reviewing its development strategies for the region, prioritising cash preservation, which includes the option of placing Nickel West under care and maintenance.