Another key milestone was achieved by Oz Minerals’ Prominent Hill mine team in January 2020 with over 1,000 spools being installed underground by Quattro Project Engineering (QPE) for the Malu Paste Reticulation project. Prominent Hill is on track to have one of the largest underground paste reticulation systems globally, incorporating the latest in innovation with the inclusion of several QD4-8 Diversion Valves to maximise plant utilisation by increasing filling optionality.

The system is using 10 in paste pipe complete with ANSI flanges installed using the Q-Claw and QPHA. The Quattro Q-Claw offers a technically sound solution which significantly reduces the cost associated with each pipework installation.By offering a single point of support, the requirement for the drilling and installation of rock bolts is halved, while the Quattro Q-Claws ability to “hug” the pipe greatly improves the ease of pipe suspension. The QPHA – Quattro Pipe Handling Aid – was developed to reduce the manual handling required by Quattro underground crews during installation. 

Prominent Hill in 2019 achieved copper and gold production guidance with bottom quartile operating costs below their guided ranges. Mine life was extended by another year to 2031 with Proved underground Ore Reservesincreasing to 77% of underground reserves. Underground expansion studies also gathered pace with shaft haulage considered the preferred method for handling production scenarios from current throughput levels ranging up to 8 Mt/y. A confirmed view on the potential underground expansion is expected by the end of 2020.