MCF Mining Approvals IndexData as at 18 October 2026 · from Western Australian Government registers and open data
Western Australian mining lease
M 53/56 · Mt Keith / BHP Billiton
M 53/56 is a Western Australian mining lease held by BHP NICKEL WEST PTY LTD (BHP group). Granted 24 July 1987, expires 26 July 2029. 997 ha in the East Murchison Mineral Field. Commodities: Nickel. Part of the Mt Keith / BHP Billiton project (operating).
- Type
- Mining lease
- Status
- Granted
- Holder
- BHP NICKEL WEST PTY LTD
- Parent group
- BHP (matched by name)
- MINEDEX projects
- Mt Keith / BHP Billiton J00756 · OperatingOwners: BHP Group Limited 100%
Honeymoon Well J00541 · ProposedOwners: BHP Group Limited 100%; BHP Nickel West Pty Ltd
BHP Nickel West Power Supply J02651 · Not ApplicableOwners: Transalta Energy (Australia) Pty Ltd 100%; BHP Nickel West Pty Ltd; BHP Group Limited; Tec Desert Pty Ltd and Tec Desert No.2 Ltd - Lodged
- 3 February 1987
- Granted
- 24 July 1987
- Expires
- 26 July 2029
- Area
- 997.10 hectares (10.0 km²)
- Mineral field
- East Murchison Mineral Field
- Commodities
- Nickel
- Rehabilitation liability
- Its rehabilitation liability is in the MCF Mining Index (subscribers): the Mining Rehabilitation Fund estimate, its trend since 2014, company provisions and closure-plan costs
- Mine closure plan
- NICKEL WEST - MT KEITH: approved 16 December 2024, NICKEL WEST - MT KEITH MINE CLOSURE PLAN Version 1.1- DECEMBER 2021 - J00756 - S0006443
- Environmental registrations
- 37 mining proposal and closure plan registrations (MINEDEX)
- EPA referred proposals
- Mt Keith Power Station Capacity Expansion Project Approved (Ministerial Statement), MS 1247; overlaps 4.6 ha
Pilbara to Goldfields Gas Pipeline Approved (Ministerial Statement), MS 374; overlaps 2.5 ha - WAMEX data
- 1,857 open-file drill holes, 50 exploration reports on this ground
- Location
- -27.21255, 120.53815 (centre)
Mining proposals and mine closure plans
| Date | Registration | Title | Status | Document (GeoDocs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 September 2025 | Mining Proposal | Wedgetail Nickel Mine Stage 1 - Rev 0 Version 3 | Approved | MP_118282.pdf |
| 11 February 2025 | Mining Proposal | Mt Keith Operations - TSF2 Remediation Program and Supernatant Water Transfer from TSF2 to NMK Main Pit | Approved | MP_129742.pdf |
| 16 December 2024 | Mine Closure Plan | NICKEL WEST - MT KEITH MINE CLOSURE PLAN Version 1.1- DECEMBER 2021 - J00756 - S0006443 | Approved | MCP_102169.pdf |
| 29 November 2024 | Mining Proposal | Reg ID 127270 Mining Proposal: Mt Keith Operations - Supernatant Water Transfer from TSF2 to J pit Revision 0, Version 3 | Approved | no public document |
| 25 October 2022 | Mining Proposal | MT KEITH DEBOTTLENECKING PROJECT AND PROCESSING PLANT MODERNISATION, Revision 2.3 | Approved | MP_113419.pdf |
| 18 July 2022 | Mining Proposal | Mining Proposal, 132kV Substations and Transmission Line - Mt Keith Operations, Revision 1 Version 1 | Approved | MP_106322.pdf |
| 20 May 2022 | Mining Proposal | BHP Nickel West - Mt Keith Debottlenecking Project Mining Proposal Revision 2 | Approved | MP_102534.pdf |
| 4 October 2018 | Mining Proposal | Mining Proposal Amendment MP 6007 M53/56, M53/57, M53/165, M53/166 and M53/167 September 2018 | Approved | mp_71655.pdf |
| 29 May 2018 | Mining Proposal | Stage J Amended Mining Proposal Version 2 | Approved | mp_73642.pdf |
| 18 May 2018 | Mine Closure Plan | Mt Keith Mine Closure Plan March 2018 - J00756 | Approved | no public document |
| 11 January 2018 | Mining Proposal | BHP Nickel West Mt Keith Stage J Extension | Approved | mp_70857.pdf |
| 24 July 2009 | Mining Proposal | RELOCATION AND INSTRUCTION OF PUTRESCIBLE LANDFILL FACILITY WITHIN LICENCE # 6453/9 BOUNDARY | Approved | mp_22047.pdf |
| 26 May 2009 | Mining Proposal | LETTER OF INTENT - MT KEITH OPERATION - TALC RE-DESIGN PROJECT | Approved | mp_21374.pdf |
| 27 July 2006 | Mining Proposal | MT KEITH : AMEND TO EXT OF ROM PAD PROJECT M53/56 165 | Approved | mp_5414.pdf |
| 27 October 2005 | Mining Proposal | MT KEITH / BHP BILLITON EXTENSION TO ROM PAD M53/56 M53/165 | Approved | mp_5145_CDB06C38F0E4D6D06543A6F149036502.pdf |
22 earlier registrations are in MINEDEX.
Registrations from MINEDEX (DMPE); the documents are the operators' own, linked on GeoDocs and not copied.