BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Pty Ltd (BHP) is seeking preliminary supplier information and expression of interest for sourcing options regarding a prospective new Bismuth and Antimony Removal System (BARS) plant.

The BARS plant will be located at the BHP Olympic Dam facility near Roxby Downs in South Australia. It will treat a side stream of electro refinery electrolyte, using ion exchange (IX) technology, to remove Bismuth (Bi) and Antimony (Sb).
The Bi and Sb will load onto the IX resin, with the treated electrolyte being returned to the refinery. Once loading is complete the resin undergoes elution using concentrated hydrochloric (HCl) acid to strip the Bi and Sb. The resin is then regenerated using dilute sulphuric (H2SO4) acid and water before the loading recommences.

The eluate, containing the Bi and Sb, is passed through an HCl acid recovery step, with the waste product of Bi and Sb comingled with tailings, and deposited into the tailings storage facility.
If BHP makes a decision to progress with the BARS project, design and supply activities are forecast to commence in July 2021, however this is subject to change.