Australia-based mining industry blasting services provider Downer Blast- ing Services (DBS) has been awarded contract extensions valued at $230-million for various blasting operations at mining sites across Australia.
DBS was awarded three-year contract extensions with coal miner Yancoal Australia, Japanese trading corporation Sojitz, and gold producer Saracen Mineral Holdings, each comprising complete down-the-hole services.
The award of these contracts covers a further extension at the existing coal operations of Moolarben, Yarrabee and Ashton, as well as the addi- tional site of Duralie, in Australia.
Since signing its first contract with Yancoal in 2006, DBS has loaded over 80 000 t of explosives at Yancoal sites without a single lost-time injury.
DBS also secured contract extensions at Sojitz’s Minerva coal mine and Saracen’s Carosue Dam gold mine for the provision of down-the-hole services and product supply.
“These contract renewals demonstrate DBS’s ability to build partnerships effectively and deliver value for its customers,” says Downer CEO Grant Fenn.
“This is the third renewal of some of Downer’s Yancoal and Sojitz contracts and the second renewal of its Saracen contract,” says Fenn, adding that this is a positive reflection of the strength of Downer’s relationships with its customers and the quality of its service delivery.
“We are delighted to be continuing these successful partnerships for another three years,” he adds.
Downer provides comprehensive engineering and infrastructure management services for the public and private minerals and metals, oil and gas, power, transport infrastructure, telecommunications, water and property sectors across the Asia-Pacific region.
DBS is one of the largest blasting services providers to the Australian mining industry. It employs about 400 people and provides blasting solutions for over 20 projects across Australia, with a fleet of over 50 mobile processing units and four emulsion-manufacturing facilities.