Blackham awards $23m in contracts

Blackham Resources will proceed with a $22.9 million refurbishment of the Wiluna gold plant at its Matilda project, with Interquip/Mintrex and Practon Engineering selected as key contractors today.

It is part of a $32.3 million upgrade of the project, and follows two days after Blackham successfully conducted a $20.3 million placement with Canaccord Genuity acting as the lead.

The Wiluna infrastructure has been on care and maintenance since 2013 and the company hopes to be in production by the third quarter of the year.

Practon will do electrical and instrumentation work, while Interquip/Mintrex will act as structural, mechanical and piping contractor.

Maddington-based Interquip recently completed work on the Thunderbox gold plant for Saracen Mineral Holdings.

Additionally, Blackham is refurbishing the mine’s camp and village.

Blackham managing director Bryan Dixon said it was a milestone for the project.

“The board is impressed by the quality of the contractors undertaking these roles and commitment to complete the work inside Blackham’s timeline,” he said.

“The $20.3 million placement announced on Monday allowed for these contracts to be awarded and the work to proceed.“

Blackham closed 1 per cent lower at 46.5 cents per share.