As Thiess continues to deliver to production requirements at Lake Vermont, it has mobilised a fourth Liebherr R 9800 excavator to support ongoing operations.

The deployment at Jellinbah Group’s mine in Queensland, Australia, reflects Thiess’ continued investment in industry-leading equipment and reinforces its focus on innovation, efficient operations and sustainable performance, Thiess says.

Thiess General Manager – Australia East, Nick Brown, said the additional excavator increases loading capacity at the site and supports strong operational outcomes for long-term client Jellinbah Group.

He said: “The mobilisation of a fourth R 9800, Liebherr’s largest flagship excavator, ensures the site has the capacity and capability to deliver operations safely and efficiently. The excavator moves around 3,000 bank cubic metres (BCM) per hour – equivalent to 16.8 million BCM annually – enabling us to support the project’s long-term production strategy.”

Equipped with a 47.5 cu.m bucket and powered by two Cummins QSK60 engines delivering a combined 4,000 hp (2,983 kWh) , the R 9800 is built for high-efficiency, large-scale mining operations.

The deployment reflects Thiess’ long-standing partnership with Liebherr, which spans more than 30 years. With 10 R 9800s now operating across Thiess Group projects globally, including the four at Lake Vermont, the fleet continues to provide the scale, reliability and performance needed to support consistent operational excellence, the mining services provider says.