Thiess wins $1.2bn contract with BHP at Mt Arthur

According to Mining News Pro -Thiess will carry out mine design, planning and scheduling, drill and blast, overburden removal and coal mining.

The five-year contract is an extension on an existing agreement with BHP at the site and secures Thiess’s place as the mine operator at the Ayredale and Roxburgh pits at the southern end of the Mt Arthur coal project.

The contract will involve six fleets plus equipment and is targeting an early 2019 start date, with Thiess’ presence at Ayredale and Roxburgh to increase over the next two months in preparation for this.

Thiess previously secured a 15-month, $185-million contract for additional mining services at Mt Arthur in March 2018, including overburden services.

This was an expansion of a load-and-haul contract at Mt Arthur that Thiess had been involved with since December 2016.

The companies have a long-standing working relationship; Thiess has contracts with BHP Nickel West at the Leinster mine and Rocky’s Reward mine, both in Western Australia.

CIMIC Group executive mining and mineral processing and Thiess managing director Douglas Thompson commented on the Mt Arthur contract, saying, that Thiess had a proud history working in the region and working with BHP.

“We’re pleased to continue our work at Mt Arthur Coal’s southern operations and support local jobs, suppliers and businesses. We look forward to contributing to the success of the Mt Arthur Coal operation,” Thompson said.

The contract is expected to create up to 300 permanent jobs.

“This is the third successive contract that Thiess has secured with BHP at Mt Arthur Coal,” said CIMIC Group chief executive officer Michael Wright.

“It recognises our team’s specialist mining capability within the Hunter Valley’s complex geology and our team’s ability to work flexibly with our client.”