Latest news with #BHP
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
'Kill switches' disguised as business: How BHP is selling out Australia's national security to a Chinese battery giant barred by the US for its alleged Beijing military ties
BHP's recent partnership should concern every Australian who cares about national security. The country's largest company has chosen to align itself with CATL, a Chinese battery giant blacklisted by the Pentagon in January. The ban targeted companies that actively support Beijing's military industry. CATL says that it has never engaged in any military-related business or activities. And yet BHP presses ahead, as if none of it matters. This isn't just another business deal. Australia's mining sector is the backbone of its economy and a pillar of national sovereignty. By allowing companies like CATL access to critical systems, Australia risks handing Beijing control over its most vital resource operations. This is about dependency. It's about surveillance. It's about forfeiting sovereignty in exchange for short-term convenience. For those rolling their eyes and brushing this off as overblown Sinophobia, take a closer look at what BHP has actually done. They've invited an alleged Chinese military-linked contractor into the heart of Australia's most strategic economic sector. CATL operates at the murky intersection of energy and surveillance. In recent years, the company has expanded into smart battery systems, units that come embedded with advanced sensors, data collection tools, GPS modules, and remote connectivity features under the banner of efficiency and monitoring. On the surface, it's marketed as innovation. However, in practice, these features enable constant data harvesting—location tracking, usage patterns, and environmental metrics—all of which can be remotely accessed or transferred, often without oversight. In other words, the technology powering your grid could also be watching it. The timing makes this betrayal all the more unforgivable. China has spent years weaponising trade against Australia, banning coal imports, slapping punitive tariffs on wine, and disrupting the barley market. These were more than policy disagreements. They were warnings. Beijing made it clear: economic ties with China come with strings attached, and when pulled, they tighten into a noose. Yet BHP has apparently learned nothing. The following statement cannot be overstated: According to the Pentagon, CATL is a company operating under a military-civil fusion doctrine, where private industry exists to serve the state. Western business models prioritise shareholders. Chinese firms, especially ones like CATL, answer to Communist Party officials. They don't see Australian resources as commodities. They see them as leverage. And that leverage is built into both software and hardware. Very soon, unless the partnership is prohibited, Beijing could have a live map of Australia's mining activities: who's producing what, where the pressure points are, and when systems can be disrupted. That type of intelligence is incredibly powerful. In a future trade war - or worse, an armed conflict - China wouldn't need to fire a shot. It could simply turn off the lights. Battery-integrated infrastructure allows for remote interference: causing breakdowns, blackouts, or 'accidental' failures with plausible deniability. BHP may be installing remote kill switches across Australia's most strategic sector, and pretending it's just business. Australia's mining sector is a geopolitical asset. It powers industries, allies and defense capabilities. Once compromised, everything downstream is at risk: agriculture, transport, telecommunications, even defense manufacturing. It won't stop with lithium. It never does. And where, I ask, is the outrage? Intelligence agencies spend billions trying to keep foreign threats out of critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, BHP is voluntarily rolling out the welcome mat for a firm flagged by the US Department of Defense as a security risk. It's like hiring a burglar as your home security consultant, except the home is the nation. The justification, as always, is economic. CATL offers cheaper technology, supposedly more efficient systems, and bulk capacity. But Australia doesn't lack domestic alternatives. The lithium exists, as does the engineering talent. What is lacking is corporate courage. BHP didn't choose CATL because it was the only option - it chose CATL because it was the cheapest. This is the price of short-term thinking: a few dollars saved today, sovereignty possibly sold tomorrow. Chinese companies don't underbid because they're efficient, they do it to drive competitors out, then control the market. Once they've embedded themselves in your infrastructure, they own you. BHP may have fallen for the oldest trick in the CCP's playbook. Parliament should be demanding answers. Who at BHP signed off on this deal? Were Chinese officials involved, either directly or through back channels? And what safeguards, if any, exist to stop data theft or cyber sabotage? If US lawmakers won't trust these companies with their supply chains, why on earth should Australians? Beijing doesn't seize control in one bold stroke. It advances slowly, through trade partnerships, infrastructure deals, and quiet influence. What begins as a battery contract ends as strategic dependence. BHP's executives seem to believe they can contain this risk, that Chinese access will stay neatly confined to technical specs and maintenance contracts. That's a fantasy. There is no such thing as a benign deal with a company that allegedly reports to a hostile state. This partnership should be terminated immediately, before a single bolt is installed. Parliament must move to outlaw future contracts with blacklisted entities. Australia is at a crossroads. BHP has chosen profit. It's up to the government to choose sovereignty - before it's too late. This is a potential national security breach, disguised as commerce, enabled by cowardice, and paid for by every Australian who thought the people in charge were looking out for them. Wake up, Australia. Your mining giant may just have invited enemy surveillance into your most critical industry. And no one in power seems willing to stop it. John Mac Ghlionn is a researcher and essayist who writes on psychology and social relations. He has a keen interest in social dysfunction and media manipulation.
The Australian
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Australian
BHP signs deal with China's CATL despite US Pentagon blacklist
Mining heavyweight BHP has struck an agreement with two of China's most powerful battery manufacturers, including one currently blacklisted by the United States Department of Defence. The memorandums of understanding (MoU) signed this week will see Chinese battery giants - BYD's battery subsidiary FinDreams, and Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), collaborate on electrifying heavy-duty mining equipment, developing fast-charging infrastructure, and advancing battery recycling technologies across BHP mines. CATL is the largest EV battery supplier in the world, with clients ranging from Tesla, Volkswagen and Toyota. MORE: Massive car companies stop all US imports Chinese battery manufacturer CATL's domestic car business chief technology officer (CTO) Gao Huang speaks at CATL Tech Day ahead of the Shanghai Auto Show in Shanghai on April 21, 2025. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP) MORE: Car giant's $7 billion loss, 20k staff sacked But in January this year, the Pentagon added CATL to its official blacklist, flagging it as a 'Chinese military company' with links to Beijing's military-industrial complex. US Representative House Select Committee on China chairman John Moolenaar warned that companies like CATL were a serious threat to the country. 'We cannot allow these loaded guns to threaten our economy and security,' he told CBT news. The designation, under Section 1260H of the US National Defence Authorisation Act does not act as a ban, but warns American entities from investing in the company due to national security concerns. BHP did not address the blacklisting in its statement but BHP group procurement officer Rashpal Bhatti said the move is part of its long term strategy to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 2050. 'This strategic relationship marks further progress in BHP's work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our operations and enable support for further developments within the global resources sector,' he said. MORE: Inside China's total domination of Australia BHP is moving to transform their haul truck fleets into battery-electric powered machines. Picture: Supplied CATL head of overseas business Tan Libin said it would collaborate with BHP on a number of areas. 'Together with forward-thinking resources companies like BHP, we aim to demonstrate how advanced battery technologies can decarbonise mining operations, logistics, and product delivery, accelerating a more sustainable, efficient future while creating long-term value and transforming the global resources industry through innovation,' he said. While the transition to electric mining fleet is a great step forward, experts say it also introduces new safety risks that must be carefully managed. According to Swinburne University School of Engineering Professor Weixiang Shen said mine sites expose battery systems to 'extremely harsh' conditions, including heat, dust, vibration and humidity, all of which increase the risk of failure. He said fast charging can cause batteries to overheat rapidly, combined with the risk of internal short circuits or electrical sparks during equipment switching, this can lead to thermal runaway, a dangerous chain reaction that can result in fires or explosions. Scenic aerial golden hour sunrive over Broken Hill mining city in Far West NSW of Australia. Escape 13 April 2025 Hotlist Photo - iStock 'Mitigating these risks requires the development of purpose-designed battery energy and thermal management systems capable of real-time monitoring, control and cooling as well as explosion-proof enclosures, all tailored to mining environments,' he said. 'Together, these systems provide robust protection against environmental hazards, ensuring the safe and reliable operation of battery-powered equipment in mining applications.' Professor Shen added that lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which offer better thermal stability than other chemistries, are currently considered the safest option in high-risk settings like mine sites. BYD and CATL are currently dominating the global battery market. According to South Korean research firm SNE Research, CATL and BYD held 38.1 per cent and 17. 4 per cent of global EV battery market share from January to May this year. In China, CATL accounted for 43.7 per cent of battery installations in June alone. Currently the company has a market capitalisation of approximately A$263.61 billion. As of December 2024, CATL also holds nearly 63 per cent market share in the premium electric vehicle market, having supplied nearly 2.22 million cars so far. Danielle Collis Journalist and Reporter Danielle's background spans print, radio and television, she has contributed to outlets such as The Age, ABC, Channel Nine and many more. For more than four years, Danielle has worked as Liz Hayes' producer and investigative journalist on her show 'Under Investigation', covering everything from corporate scandals to Australia's most baffling crime cases. Danielle's covered a range of topics from breaking news, politics, lifestyle and now motoring. Danielle Collis
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
BHP Group downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at BMO Capital
BMO Capital downgraded BHP Group (BHP) to Market Perform from Outperform with an unchanged price target of 2,000 GBp. The firm cites valuation for the downgrade with the shares rallying to the price target in recent days. The rally, coupled with BMO's review of its Jansen assumptions following the announced delays create a 'less compelling' share multiple, especially with BHP's free cash flow yields now below average, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Kristie Batten: Asian Battery Metals eyes scale-up of copper-nickel discovery
One of Australia's top mining journalists, Kristie Batten, writes for Stockhead every week in her regular column placing a watchful eye on the movers and shakers of the small cap resources scene. Asian Battery Metals (ASX:AZ9) believes it may have made a significant copper-nickel-platinum group element discovery at its Oval project in Mongolia. AZ9, which listed on the ASX last year, was previously focused on its more advanced graphite and lithium projects in Mongolia, though Oval was selected to be part of BHP's Xplor exploration accelerator in 2023. The company used the US$500,000 of funding provided by the program to drill Oval. In October 2024, AZ9 reported a hit of 8.8m at 6.08% copper, 3.19% nickel, 1.63 grams per tonne platinum, palladium and gold (E3) and 0.11% cobalt, or 12.57% copper equivalent from 107.2m. Since then, the company has been focused on expanding the scale of the discovery. Earlier this month, AZ9 reported an intersection of 8.7m at 2.44% copper, 1.52% nickel, 1.4g/t E3 and 0.06% cobalt from 112.8m, including 2m at 3.72% copper, 3.82% nickel, 1.65g/t E3 and 0.16% cobalt, 130m down-dip of a previous intercept. The results suggest semi-continuous mineralisation extends over 800m, including North Oval and the Oval gabbroic intrusion. Planning underway The recent focus for AZ9 has been electromagnetics to define targets for the next round of drilling. 'Electromagnetic is the go-to tool for this type of mineralisation, so we brought Gap Geophysics, the Australian company, to the field, and they are working currently,' AZ9 managing director Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren told Stockhead. 'Based on that work, we're hoping that we'll have multiple targets to drill on top of whatever we have from our ground EM work.' On Friday, AZ9 announced that the ground-based fixed loop electromagnetic survey at Oval was halfway through but had already resulted in 29 conductive plates being modelled across four target zones. Six priority one plates have been identified with strong geophysical responses. The focus of the remainder of the program is the deeper zones and step-out targets, including MS1, MS2 and Quartz Hill targets. Zunduisuren said the program to date had delivered the results the company were hoping for. 'I think the next stage of drilling is going to be quite instrumental for us,' he said. Drilling is set to resume in early August, while the first round of metallurgical test work results will also be released this quarter. 'The strategy for this year is to really show the size and the extent of the mineralisation to get the feeling of how large the potential is, and if we can get that by the end of the year, next year we're going to drill for a resource,' Zunduisuren said. 'We have very limited historic information. This is a brand new area, even in Mongolia, in the southwest part where we are working. 'I don't think there have been any historic magmatic mafic intrusion-related copper and nickel sulphide systems before, so this is brand new in this sense, so we really have to do everything from ground up. 'That's why we certainly believe that there is definitely a potential for camp-scale or clusters of orebodies within a few kilometres or a few tens of kilometres from each other.' Mongolia still emerging Despite Mongolia being home to Rio Tinto's massive Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine, Zunduisuren said it was still misunderstood as a destination. 'The last round of real investor interest was in the early 2000s,' he said. 'That's when we had a big flow of investment from Australia and Canada, especially in the gold space in Mongolia, and then the copper space. 'Knowing all the moving parts there, I think Mongolia will probably become quite interesting for investors over the next few years.' Zunduisuren said Mongolia was a mature mining destination with the right regulatory frameworks in place to support the industry. 'Infrastructure wise, it's vastly improved over the last 15 years,' he said. 'Just based on that, it's way better positioned to attract investment than 15 years ago.' The ASX's only other Mongolia-focused copper player, Xanadu Mines, is set to disappear shortly after accepting a $180 million takeover offer. Xanadu accepted the 8c per share offer – a 57% premium – and the acquirer Bastion Mining moved to compulsory acquisition on Friday. It will result in one less copper developer on the ASX, a space which is already reasonably thin. 'I think the key for larger institutional investors or corporates, they're definitely looking, of course, and observing how we progressing further,' Zunduisuren said. 'To really make their minds up, there's two things that need to be there. One is a quantity. The other is quantity. 'With our current results, we have shown there's definitely a quality of the product there, but we need to show the quantity and that's the whole strategy of this year's exploration.'
AU Financial Review
4 days ago
- Business
- AU Financial Review
How BHP, Rio and Woodside fought against Trump's revenge tax
Washington | United States Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned the Trump administration that major copper and gas projects proposed by Australian resources giants BHP, Rio Tinto and Woodside were being put at risk from the president's planned revenge tax. Wright, a former oil and gas chief executive, pointed to Rio and BHP's proposed Resolution Copper mine in Arizona and Woodside's Louisiana LNG plant as examples of foreign-backed resources projects that were jeopardised by controversial laws initially backed by US President Donald Trump, according to sources with knowledge of his advocacy.
