MACA’S PILGANGOORA WIN
THE CONTRACTORS
MACA has been awarded a two year open pit mining contract for Pilbara Minerals’ Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project, plus three, one year extension options.
The company will provide drill and blast and load and haul services, at a mining rate of 8 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) for the production of 2mtpa of ore to meet requirements of Stage 1 project development.
Mobilisation and establishment on site was set to commence shortly, with pre-stripping of the main Pilgangoora deposit expected during November 2017.
Pilbara Minerals said mining activities would progressively ramp-up through the rest of 2017 and into the 2018 in order to meet the company’s expected timetable of commencing shipments of concentrate to its customer base in China during the second quarter of 2018.
Pilbara Minerals managing director Ken Brinsden said the award of the open pit mining contract was a key milestone for the project, as site-based activities continued to ramp-up on several fronts.
“The site is already a hive of activity, and this will only continue to increase in the coming weeks following the award of this pivotal contract as the MACA mining team begin to mobilise to site,” Mr Brinsden said.
“MACA has vast experience working in the Pilbara region and they are a perfect fit with our organisation.
“This contract will employ around 70 personnel and will require the mobilisation of an extensive mining fleet comprising two hydraulic excavators, seven large capacity haulage trucks, drill rigs and numerous items of support equipment.
“We are looking forward to working closely with MACA over the coming years in the execution of this key contract and growing the subcontract and work opportunities for the Njamal people at the Pilgangoora Project.”
“This contract will employ around 70 personnel and will require the mobilisation of an extensive mining fleet comprising two hydraulic excavators, seven large capacity haulage trucks, drill rigs and numerous items of support equipment.”