News >> International news

BHP Billiton's (BHP.AX) (BLT.L) $20 billion Olympic Dam expansion plan in Australia remains on track for a final decision in 2011, BHP Billiton said on Monday after a newspaper reported the project may be delayed.

"The timetable remains the same," BHP Billiton spokeswoman Amanda Buckley said.

The company is looking to more than triple annual copper production capacity to 730,000 tonnes and more than quadruple uranium production capacity to 19,000 tonnes over 11 years at the world's biggest uranium deposit and fourth-largest copper lode.

BHP plans to submit its response to thousands of letters about its assessment of the environmental impact of the project later this year, with a decision by two state governments and Canberra expected by the middle of 2011.

It has said it aims to take a recommendation to the board later next year.

BHP briefed the South Australian government opposition on the project two weeks ago, and the state's opposition mining spokesman Mitch Williams said he believed the miner was still committed but the timing was the key question, the Australian Financial Review reported on Monday.

The recent softening prices for Olympic Dam's key minerals especially uranium, and a significant increase in the required capital is understood to be weighing on BHP, the paper said.