Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV, SSEV: SSVCL, OTCQX: SSVFF)
Southern Silver, a low-risk junior development company with substantial upside potential that is emerging as one of the premier Ag-Pb-Zn companies in Mexico
BHP, the world’s largest mining company, delivered better-than-expected revenue and profit growth in the just-concluded fiscal year, with its copper business surpassing iron ore in profit contribution for the first time, becoming the company’s core growth engine. Over the next decade, the company is accelerating its multi-line strategy centered on copper, potash, and potential uranium resources, but it also faces real-world challenges such as declining ore grades, substantial investment scale, and uncertainties in new business expansion. The appointment of a new chief executive officer may introduce new variables to the strategic deployment of this mining giant under the two long-term themes of energy transition and food security.
BHP achieved revenue of $58.8 billion in the fiscal year ended June, up 15% year-on-year, and attributable net profit of $13.2 billion, up 30% year-on-year, both exceeding market expectations. The company announced a final dividend of 99 cents per share, with a payout ratio of 72%.
During the period, copper prices surged to historic highs, driving the copper business to contribute more than half of the company’s underlying EBITDA for the first time and to achieve free cash flow self-sufficiency. This milestone marks copper’s official overtaking of iron ore as BHP’s most important profit engine.
However, existing mines in Chile are facing declining ore grades and aging issues, and the company has invested billions of dollars to maintain output. Chief Executive Officer Brendan Craig took office on July 1, with key priorities during his tenure including advancing the expansion of copper operations in South America and Australia, as well as expanding into the new potash business. Phase one of the Jansen potash project in Canada is 84% complete and is expected to begin production in mid-2027, with a designed operational life of over 60 years, making it a key asset in the company’s food security strategy.
Beyond copper and potash, BHP’s potential moves in the uranium sector have also attracted market attention. Canada-based uranium developer NexGen Energy (NXE) rose more than 7% during Monday’s trading session after reports emerged that both parties are maintaining regular communication and sharing technical information regarding the Rook I uranium project in Saskatchewan.
NexGen has officially launched the project, with total investment of approximately CAD 2.2 billion (about USD 1.6 billion), and plans to raise approximately USD 1 billion in funding over the next nine months. The company’s chief executive officer stated that both parties have maintained open technical exchanges, and that BHP had previously acquired large tracts of land in the nearby Athabasca Basin. It is worth noting that BHP is not a newcomer to the uranium industry—its Olympic Dam copper mine in South Australia currently produces uranium as a by-product, accounting for approximately 5% of global supply—but the company has previously ruled out further expansion of that mine site.
New CEO Craig is reportedly planning to conduct an in-depth assessment of the uranium industry, but has also acknowledged that finding large-scale investment opportunities that match BHP’s size is not easy. No formal agreement has been reached between the two parties at this stage, but BHP’s land holdings around the project site, combined with NexGen’s upcoming large-scale financing, have fueled market expectations for the mining giant’s future participation in the project.
