BHP Billiton to Supply Olympic Medal Materials

Photo: The Beijing Organizing Committee

Mining giant BHP Billiton announced today (Wednesday) that materials from three of its mines will be used to produce the medals used in the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing, China.

The company’s Cannington mine in Queensland, Australia will supply the silver used in the production in both the gold and silver medals, while its Escondida operation in Chile will provide the copper concentrate which will contain the gold for the gold medals. The copper cathode used to make the bronze for the bronze medals will be extracted from the Spence operation, also in Chile.

The materials will be shipped to the China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation in Shanghai, where the medals will be created.

BHP Billiton CEO Chip Goodyear said that the announcement highlighted the company’s world-class diversified asset base. “The Games present us with many unique opportunities, including the chance to showcase our position as the world’s largest diversified minerals company and our continued support for China’s long-term development and its emerging role in the international community.”

The Cannington mine also provided the material for the silver medals at the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games and Melbourne’s 2006 Commonwealth Games.