Melbourne, May 2, 2026, 06:12 (AEST)
- DISA Technologies raised $33 million in a round led by Galvanize, with backing from BHP Ventures.
- BHP picks up a stake in mineral-recovery tech through the deal, sharpening its focus on copper and potash expansion.
- So far, whether this pays off at scale remains to be seen; BHP kept quiet on its investment amount in the round.
DISA Technologies Inc, a U.S.-based firm focused on squeezing more value from mining sites and old mine waste, has secured $33 million in fresh funding, according to the company. The round, led by Galvanize, saw participation from BHP Ventures, the investment arm of BHP Group Ltd. Melbourne’s mining heavyweight put its venture capital muscle behind the deal.
BHP is looking for growth not just from big new mines, but also by squeezing more out of copper, potash, and the ore bodies it already owns. Critical minerals—key for energy, industrial, and security supply chains—often take years to reach the market, so tech that speeds up recovery and needs less capital has become a focus.
DISA uses a technique known as high-pressure slurry ablation. Here’s what happens: ore or waste rock gets blended with water, then forced through nozzles set against each other. The resulting collisions break apart the mix, shaking loose the valuable mineral content from the rest. That’s according to details in a uranium-cleanup document from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission .
Laurel Buckner, who heads BHP’s New Business Ventures, described DISA’s approach as “designed for broad deployment.” Over at DISA, CEO Greyson Buckingham labeled the funding round a “key milestone.” Galvanize’s Cliff Ryan added that the tech could “unlock value” from both current operations and legacy assets. PR Newswire
BHP Ventures backs over 20 startups developing tech aimed at making BHP’s sites safer, greener, and more efficient. The DISA move isn’t a big-ticket acquisition for BHP—no mine permits or hefty balance sheet impact here. It’s a targeted play at a long-standing mining headache: extracting more metal, cutting waste, and shaving costs.
BHP’s funding announcement comes after its April 22 operational review. CEO Mike Henry told investors the company targets fiscal 2026 copper production toward the higher end of its 1.9 million to 2.0 million tonne guidance. The miner also logged record output at Western Australia Iron Ore. On top of that, it pulled in roughly $4.8 billion from the Antamina silver streaming deal—an upfront payout tied to future silver production—plus proceeds from the Carajás sale and earlier coal asset divestments.
BHP continues to push ahead with major copper initiatives. The company’s review notes that the Escondida new concentrator permit went in back in March. Over in Arizona, Resolution Copper—a Rio Tinto-led JV with BHP holding a 45% stake—has clearance to ramp up drilling and kick off early underground work.
Iron ore is still acting as the cushion here. On April 28, Reuters said China Mineral Resources Group scrapped its ban on buying some BHP portside cargoes, right after BHP wrapped up sales-contract talks with the state buyer. That move takes one source of uncertainty off the table for the Pilbara operation, but leaves the broader issue of Chinese steel demand unresolved.
It’s a cramped field right now. Glencore posted a 19% jump in first-quarter copper output, reaching 199,600 metric tons after a boost in African ore grades and more throughput from Antamina. CEO Gary Nagle highlighted ongoing cost headwinds—diesel and sulphuric acid especially. BHP’s push on recovery tech lands squarely in this race: squeezing more copper, fighting costs, chasing reliable reserves.
In a Thursday filing, BHP reported its issued share capital at 5,081,391,706 ordinary shares with voting rights, and confirmed no treasury shares. Standard practice, sure, but this number forms the basis for major holding disclosures required by UK transparency rules.
BHP’s Australian shares changed hands at A$54.94, up 2.27%, according to the company’s website as of 05:47 AEST Saturday. The U.S.-listed stock was quoted at $79.28, just 0.03% lower. The DISA financing lacks the heft to move the share price on its own, yet it aligns neatly with the copper and critical minerals narrative drawing investor attention.
Scale is the sticking point. BHP hasn’t said how much it put into the DISA round, while its own operations update pointed out lingering issues: weaker guidance at Spence, pricier diesel and consumables, plus BMA coal unit costs likely hitting the upper limit of forecasts. It’s one thing for venture tech to look promising in a filing—another for it to deliver at an actual mine.
Brandon Craig steps in as CEO July 1, and faces an early challenge: can smaller moves like DISA really help drive BHP’s broader strategic pivot? The company touts its “reliable operations” and a robust lineup of copper and potash projects coming Craig’s way. Converting that optimism into actual output, stronger cash flow, and fewer chokepoints won’t come easy. BHP
