PERTH (miningweekly.com) - ASX-listed Oz Minerals has awarded project house Thiess a A$1-billion contract to extend the mining operations at the Prominent Hill copper-gold mine, in South Australia.

Under the contract, Thiess would undertake the mining operations for Oz Minerals until 2018.

Thiess has been operational at the Prominent Hill site since 2006 when the company undertook the construction of infrastructure, and subsequently the mining for the greenfield operation.

The company said on Tuesday that planning, training and implementation of the ramp-up was well under way, which required a substantial expansion of its existing operation, peaking at five fleets of large mining equipment.

The expansion of operations would require Thiess to employ an additional 170 people over the coming months, with the total openpit mining workforce expected to peak at 550 people.

“We have been very successful in our operation 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,” said Thiess executive GM Michael Wright.

Of the Thiess workforce currently on site, around 90% would be based in South Australia, with a further 15% from regional Aboriginal communities.
 

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