Watpac wins more Ramelius work

The local arm of Watpac has won a $45 million contract extension to continue providing mining services to Ramelius Resources’ Mt Magnet gold mine.

Under the contract, Watpac Civil & Mining will provide drill, blast, load and haul services to the mine’s Blackmans, Titan and Brown Hill pits.

The work will be delivered over 16 months, with general manager Russell Hall expecting mining of the new pits to commence shortly.

“We anticipate a seamless start to operations as the equipment, infrastructure and personnel are already based at Mt Magnet,” Mr Hall said.

“The Blackmans pit is located 38 kilometres north of Mt Magnet and will be a satellite operation for the team where they will use a combination of 90-tonne rigid and articulated dump trucks loaded by 100t excavators.

“At Mt Magnet, the Titan pit will be initially mined by a 200t excavator however as the pit deepens, geological constraints will dictate the use of a smaller 100t excavator to complete mining using articulated trucks.

“Mining of the Brown Hill pit will coincide with works in the Titan pit.”

Watpac has provided mining services at Mt Magnet since 2011.

The company last year won a $17 million contract to provide the same services at Ramelius’s Kathleen Valley gold project near Leinster.

Watpac shares were 4.2 per cent higher to 85.5 cents each at 1:30pm.