RUC Mining has announced that it has been awarded a contract for the design and construction of two ventilation shafts for a major global mining company in New South Wales, Australia. The shafts will be blind sinks to a depth of approximately 600 m at 5.5 m and 7.5 m diameter, respectively. The contract was signed in November 2022.

This represents the third major sinking project currently in progress for RUC in Australia, which it says “is unprecedented in recent history and helps to consolidate our strong standing in the market.” RUC says it brings a wide range of experience and expertise to the discipline, gained from sinking and equipping some of the largest shafts in the world, often in the harshest conditions.

“From the remote highlands of Papua to the technically challenging urban landscapes of Hong King, our turnkey solution for shaft projects, delivers a final constructed solution that gets your high-risk projects done with a minimum of fuss. Utilising all our core skills, our extensive fleet of equipment and unmatched experience, we take all the headaches out of your biggest shaft sinking challenges.”

Recent shaft related projects in Australia include design of the permanent Western Areas Odysseus Shaft (also known as Cosmos) infrastructure, design, fabrication and supply of all temporary infrastructure and the provision of plant, resources, and services for the equipping of the Cosmos Shaft in WA.

The Tanami Shaft Lining & Equipping Project (TE2) in NT for Newmont comprised a new 5.5 m diameter concrete lined vertical production shaft equipped with fixed steel guides to a depth of 1,460 m below surface and the associated shaft and surface infrastructure.