BHP announces it is closing Western Australia Nickel mines

BHP announced it is closing it's BHP Nickel West operation, with about 1,600 Australian workers to be impacted.

BHP are ending production at the Kwinana nickel refinery in Perth, the Kalgoorlie smelter & major mines at Mt Keith and Leinster from October.

Perth-based mining analyst Tim Treadgold said he could not see the Australian nickel industry recovering from such a big player bailing out, stating that "This is very close to being the death knell."

BHP said it would establish a $20 million community fund to support the towns affected by the closures.