BHP Billiton announced that at approximately 10.30PM yesterday, the haulage system in the Clark Shaft at Olympic Dam was damaged in a mechanical failure.

BHPB said that the haulage system used at Olympic Dam is fully automated, and no one was injured in the incident.

It added that a full investigation is underway to determine the cause of the failure and the extent of the damage.

The main shaft haulage system supplies ore from underground to the surface processing facilities. The secondary haulage system continues to operate.