Pentium Hydro has continued to book more work from the mining sector with Iluka Resources becoming the latest company to engage it for specialised dewatering drilling.

The Vysarn subsidiary’s Goods and Services contract with Iluka at the Cataby mineral sands mine, in Western Australia, has an estimated value of A$1.875 million ($1.3 million) and, based on the current scope, is expected to be complete before the end of June 2020.

Pentium plans to mobilise to site in early February, with the company carrying out the drilling of dewatering and injection wells at the Southern Area Development project at Cataby.

Managing Director of Pentium, Sheldon Burt, said: “The mobilisation of this rig will be the seventh rig of the fleet committed to a drilling program since acquiring the assets and the company’s relisting on ASX in September 2019.”

Pentium’s list of recent project awards includes Fortescue Metals Group at Cloudbreak, Roy Hill at its Western Australia iron ore mine and the AngloGold Ashanti- and Independence Group-owned Tropicana gold mine.

Burt added: “The award of this work further strengthens the company’s strategy to become the premium dewatering service provider in Western Australia, specifically to Tier One mining clients.”