MELBOURNE (Reuters:) On Thursday, BHP Group (NYSE :), Australia’s most prominent mining company listed on the NASDAQ, stated that workers and visitors to its Australian offices will be required to have a complete COVID-19 vaccination starting in January.

BHP stated in a statement that these requirements would be implemented earlier at certain sites located in high-risk areas such as Mt Arthur coalmine in New South Wales.

Australia’s battle to control an extremely infectious Delta variant COVID-19 outbreak has continued since mid-year.

Now, it is pushing to raise vaccination rates so cities can start lowering lockdowns.

“The science is clear that widespread vaccination saves lives,” BHP Minerals Australia President Edgar Basto said in a statement.

He said that widespread vaccination is the only way forward in Australia. “We are looking into a variety of practical options to help communities and workers while we support them.”

The Mining and Energy Union said that it did not support BHP’s decision to mandate vaccines and that it was working through the legal implications of the decision.

“We have strongly advocated to government and industry that COVID-19 vaccinations should be voluntary for mineworkers,” it said in a statement.

Western Australia is where BHP operates its iron ore production and has been coronavirus-free for most of the time. However, this week, BHP announced that all workers who work with natural resources would need to receive a COVID-19 test starting in December.

It stated that this was done to protect vulnerable Indigenous communities, as the country opens up.

Australia’s coronavirus levels are low with just 120,000 cases and only 1,381 deaths. Double dose vaccination rates in Australia have risen to 47%.