Jansen potash mine delayed, BHP cites rising costs
Less than a year after reporting that construction was ahead of schedule, BHP now says its Jansen potash project near Humboldt will face major delay and a significant cost increase.
According to BHP’s 2025 operational review, the project’s first stage, originally scheduled for completion in 2026, has been pushed to mid-2027. The company also flagged a cost overrun of up to $1.7 billion, raising the projected total from $5.7 billion to between $7.0 and $7.4 billion. BHP cited inflation, scope changes and execution challenges as reasons for the setback.
Additionally, BHP reported record copper and iron ore output in fiscal 2025.
The Jansen mine is a cornerstone of BHP’s efforts to diversify beyond copper and iron ore, aiming to become the world’s largest potash operation.