Mining behemoth faces copper questions, coal protests

Key points

• BHP shareholders will meet at Sydney Showgrounds on Thursday, the first annual meeting under chief executive Brandon Craig. The miner reported copper production of 400,000 tonnes in the September quarter, down 19 per cent from the June quarter and below analyst expectations.
• It blamed severe weather and a fatality at its Escondida mine in Chile. Sharesies Australia's Jacki Neumann said investors will want confidence in cost control and copper returns.
• Pacific Climate Warriors plan to protest outside the meeting against coal expansion projects.