Thiess Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Leighton (LEI), has been awarded a six-year mining contract to extend mining operations at OZ Minerals’ Prominent Hill Copper and Gold Mine in South Australia. With an expected cumulative value of $1 billion, the contract award ensures that Thiess will undertake the mining operations for OZ Minerals until 2018. Thiess is well underway in the planning, training and implementation of the ramp-up which requires a substantial expansion of Thiess’ existing operation, peaking at five fleets of large mining equipment.
Thiess’ Managing Director Bruce Munro is very pleased with the outcome for both OZ Minerals and Thiess. “This contract is recognition of Thiess’ strong partnership with OZ Minerals, a relationship built since 2006 when Thiess undertook the construction of infrastructure and then the mining for the greenfield operation at Prominent Hill,” Mr Munro said. Executive General Manager of Thiess’ Australian Mining Michael Wright says the expansion requires Thiess to employ an additional 170 people over coming months with the total open pit mining workforce expected to peak at 550 people. “We have been very successful with our operations at Prominent Hill, with a strong focus placed on employing and training local people, and on ensuring we have a diverse workforce with a strong culture,” Mr Wright said.
Thiess’ $2.8 billion mining business in Australia and overseas provides turnkey services for mine owners, including mine development and approvals, mine planning, infrastructure design and construction, technical services, plant procurement and maintenance, and all facets of mining operations. The Prominent Hill operations are a crucial part of Thiess’ business. Thiess has an annual turnover of $7 billion and $22 billion work in hand. With over 19,000 employees, it has become Australia’s leading and most trusted construction, mining and services contractor. Thiess is a wholly owned subsidiary of Leighton Holdings Limited.
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