Tag Archives: Balkau Decline

Barminco extends stay at Regis Resources’ Duketon operations

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Perenti Limited’s underground mining business, Barminco, has been awarded a new contract for the provision of mining services at Regis Resources Limited’s Duketon Operations (including Rosemont and Garden Well underground mines) in the Goldfields region of Western Australia.

The alliance style agreement comes with a contract value of A$393 million ($255 million) and is based on initial three-year term, commencing April 1, 2024.

As part of the pact, Barminco is due to carry out underground development, production and support services at the operations.

Regis recently opened the Balkau Decline at its Garden Well South underground mine, which is an underground extension of the Garden Well open-pit mine: a key production source at Regis’ Duketon gold project.

Rosemont, meanwhile, includes the Rosemont open pit and underground mine, as well as Baneygo open pit. The Rosemont and associated surface deposits are mined using conventional open-pit mining truck and shovel methods. The Rosemont underground produces approximately 600,000 t/y and is mined using mechanised open stoping.

Mark Norwell, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Perenti, said: “We’re very pleased to continue our partnership with Regis Resources at the Duketon Operations where Barminco has been providing value to our
client through both development and production works since February 2019. This award adds Australian based underground earnings to our portfolio, which is aligned with the ongoing delivery of our strategy.”

Gabrielle Iwanow, President of Contract Mining, said, “Our people are at the heart of our success and their dedication, innovative thinking and highly skilled efforts have again resulted in the award of a significant contract with the third largest Australian gold producer on the ASX, at a great mine that is located right here in Western Australia. We are proud to continue partnering with Regis Resources as we embark on this alliance style contract to further deliver on our purpose of creating enduring value and certainty.”

Regis Resources opens Balkau Decline at Garden Well South underground mine

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Regis Resources Ltd has officially opened the Balkau Decline at its Garden Well South underground mine, in Western Australia, named after Regis General Manager of Exploration, Jens Balkau, who passed away in 2021.

Garden Well South underground is an underground extension of the Garden Well open-pit mine, which is a key production source at Regis’ Duketon gold project, located in the Goldfields region of Western Australia.

The original Garden Well deposit was discovered as a “blind deposit” by the Regis exploration team led by Jens Balkau.

Balkau was one of the first and longest serving employees of Regis, joining in January 2006 as the General Manager of Exploration, and remaining in that role until February 2016 when he retired from full-time work. He remained a consultant to Regis before he passed away from a long-term illness in November 2021.

The Balkau Decline provides access to Regis’ second underground operation, located at Garden Well South, which commenced commercial production during May 2023. This is part of the mineralised system that extends for at least 1 km underneath the existing Garden Well open pits, which resulted from the original discovery by the team that Balkau led, Regis said.

This milestone is the culmination of more than two years of preparation, commitment and hard work from Regis teams with support from major mining services providers Barminco and MACA, it added.

Garden Well Underground will become a key part of the wider Duketon operations, which produced 356,000 oz of gold in the year ending June 30, 2021.

The official opening ceremony for the Balkau Decline was attended by Balkau’s family, local Traditional Owners as well as many former and current Regis employees, including Regis Chairman, James Mactier, and Managing Director and CEO, Jim Beyer.

Beyer said: “The official naming of the Balkau Decline yesterday reflects this positive evolution for the Garden Well operation, so it is fitting we name it after the man who led the initial discovery of Garden Well. Jens was a much-loved and valued colleague, friend and mentor to many at Regis. He led the exploration team for over a decade with enthusiasm and an abundant willingness to nurture the next generation of geologists.

“Jens is deeply missed, but his legacy will always be remembered at Regis.”