Watpac extends Ramelius relationship

Contractor Watpac Civil & Mining has been appointed by Ramelius Resources to provide mining services at the Coogee open pit gold mine southeast of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Ramelius has recently optimised its mine plan for Coogee, with the mine’s smaller footprint to be serviced by Watpac’s six-wheel drive dump trucks, which can handle ramps that are 30 per cent steeper than conventional trucks can.

Commercial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Ore from the Coogee mine will be processed at Ramelius’ Burbanks Mill at Coolgardie.

Ramelius is aiming to produce up to 18,000 ounces of gold from the mine.

The contract adds to a $200 million deal Watpac won at Ramelius’ flagship Mount Magnet gold operation in 2011.

Ramelius is likely to be looking for another contractor shortly for its newly-acquired Vivien gold deposit, after yesterday launching a $16.3 million capital raising to fund exploration and development.

The Vivien project has an estimated gold resource of 154,000 ounces.