BHP Billiton has stopped work at its coal project in Indonesia following the death of a subcontractor.

BHP said the worker was fatally injured at its IndoMet Coal Project in central Kalimantan on Monday.

“Operations at the site were immediately stopped and a full investigation is underway,” BHP said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Our immediate thoughts and condolences are with the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased person.”

The worker was a subcontractor for local mining contractor PT Thiess Contractors Indonesia.

Thiess said it had sent a team to the mine to investigate.

It said employee safety was the company’s top priority and expressed sympathy for the worker’s family.

BHP owns 75 per cent of the IndoMet Coal Project, which holds metallurgical and energy coal deposits in Kalimantan.

The mining giant began development work at the mine in 2012.

BHP is still carrying out study work at the site to determine development options, while workers have focused on infrastructure projects.