Thiess to extend Curragh North Coal Mine in Central Queensland

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Gurragh North Coal Mine Image credit: flickr User: keffynmedia

Thiess has secured a $570 million mine contract extension awarded by Wesfarmers Resources to implement improvements and extension operations of the Curragh North Coal Mine in the Bowen Basin area in Central Queensland.

Gurragh North Coal Mine Image credit: flickr User:  keffynmedia
Gurragh North Coal Mine
Image credit: flickr User: keffynmedia

The four-year extension contract is a complement to the current ten-year agreement which was signed in 2010.

According to the ASX announcement issued by Leighton Holdings Limited, Thiess will be focused on optimizing activities regarding productivity in overburden removal and coal mining.

“Thiess has worked collaboratively with us to review areas of efficiency and agree on a strategy that will ensure Curragh maintains its position as a cost-competitive operation,” said Stewart Butel, Managing Director of Wesfarmers Resources.

According to Mr Butel, Thiess was awarded the go-ahead for the extension in a time when the industry is faced with numerous challenges.

Adertisement

“We have worked closely with Wesfarmers Resources since 2004 at the Curragh North operation and this contract extension will deliver greater value in challenging times to benefit the mine and our stakeholders,” said Bruce Munro, Managing Director of Thiess.

Leighton Holdings Chief Executive Officer Hamish Tyrwhitt pointed out that this announcement is the second for the Group in the Bowen Basin this month.

“The Curragh North extension and Thiess’ $550 million Lake Vermont expansion announced last month are compelling testimony to the value proposition the Leighton Group has in the contract mining market,” said Mr Tyrwhitt.

The media release further reveals that Wesfarmers Curragh mine will continue with dragline operations, as well as drilling and blasting. The company will not implement any changes to the Ultra Class fleet which was provided by Thiess under the terms of the ten-year agreement.

Thiess is a wholly owned subsidiary of Leighton Holdings Limited with an annual turnover of $6.5 billion and 20 000 employees. The company is one of Australia’s leading and most trusted construction, mining and services contractor.

For more information about the mining operation at Curragh North Coal Mine visit http://www.thiess.com.au/