Our ambition 

At BHP, our purpose is to bring people and resources together to build a better world. One way we do this is by focusing on the safety and integrity of all TSFs across our operated and closed assets to protect people, the environment and communities where we operate. 

Our approach and position 

Following the tragic TSF failures at Fundão dam at Samarco in 2015 (a non-operated joint venture (NOJV) owned 50 per cent by BHP) and Brumadinho dam at Vale’s iron ore operation in Brazil in 2019, we continue to evolve our approach to TSF management, with a focus on the governance and conformance with industry standards, and the delivery of a continuous reduction in TSF failure risk.

Our tailings storage facility management evolution

Our short-term strategy focuses on improvement of key risk indicator performance, including studies to reduce and mitigate potential downstream impacts, particularly to those who could be at risk in the event of a TSF failure. Our medium- and long-term strategies focus on complex risk reduction projects and the identification and use of improved tailings management and storage solutions. Where there is a requirement to increase the current tailings storage capacity or construct a new TSF, we investigate cost-effective tailings management solutions, including non-conventional tailings solutions, as part of our efforts to reduce potential risks (aligned to our risk appetite) and increase social value. We are committed to achieving alignment with tailings industry standards, including the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) and Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM). 

For information on tailings and TSFs refer to the What are tailings and TSFs webpage. 

Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management 

We are committed to achieving alignment with the global benchmark for social, environmental and technical outcomes described within the GISTM for all operated TSFs. We support detailed, transparent and integrated disclosure regarding TSF management, publishing a GISTM public disclosure document on our website for all TSFs in alignment with the GISTM, supported by our ESG Standards and Databook. We have engaged a third-party contractor to progressively validate GISTM conformance aligned to the ICMM recommended timeframes.  

As of August 2025, 61 of BHP’s TSFs are aligned with GISTM, with the remaining nine are working towards alignment. Of the partially aligned TSFs, one TSF is classified as very high consequence,¹ three TSFs are classified as high consequence and the remainder are classified as significant or low consequence. We have received third-party validation of our alignment for 22 TSFs, representing 92 per cent of our very high and extreme consequence classification TSFs. The remainder of the aligned TSFs are based on BHP’s assessment of GISTM alignment. These TSFs will be validated by a third party in line with ICMM recommended timeframes. 

The classification of a TSF as partially aligned with GISTM is not a statement on that TSF’s risk or safety, but rather an assessment on the TSF’s conformance to the GISTM. BHP’s governance and risk management frameworks are in place across our operated sites and manage TSF safety and integrity. The GISTM public disclosure document details the work required and timeframe to achieve alignment for those TSFs that are currently only partially aligned. 

Footnote:

1. This TSF’s classification increased to extreme during FY2025. Information on the basis of the current classification, along with general information on consequence classification is available in the 2025 GISTM Public Disclosure.

Progress in FY2025

In FY2025, we continued works aimed at reducing our TSF failure risk, for example:  

• The construction of a buttress was substantially completed at legacy asset’s Solitude TSF. 
• We validated conformance with the GISTM at 12 of our extreme and very high consequence classification operated TSFs. 
• We continued to progress alignment with the GISTM for the remaining TSFs at our operated and closed assets.   

For more information on our TSF portfolio refer to Operated and non-operated tailings portfolio in the Other section below.   

Risk 

We operate to a single Risk Framework for all risks, including TSF failure risks at our assets. We use key risk indicators, set by senior management, to help monitor performance against BHP’s risk appetite. Our Risk Framework requires the pursuit of risk reduction actions to eliminate or reduce exposure to TSF failure risks until they are within BHP’s risk appetite.  

Our approach to TSF risk management is detailed in Tailings storage facilities risk management. 

For more information on our Risk Framework, which we operate to for all risks (including TSF risk), refer to our BHP Annual Report 2025, Operating and Financial Review 7 – How we manage risk. 

Case studies