Tag Archives: Jules Pemberton

NRW Holdings subsidiary banks A$1.6B contract for South Walker Creek coal mine

Coal technology, Mine operation news, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , ,

NRW Holdings Limited’s wholly owned subsidiary, Golding Contractors Pty Ltd (Golding), has signed a mining services agreement (MSA)
with Stanmore SMC Pty Ltd (Stanmore) at the South Walker Creek (SWC) mine in central Queensland, Australia.

The MSA has a total value of approximately A$1.6 billion ($1.07 billion) over a five-year term, commencing in January 2026.

The scope of the MSA includes operating and maintaining eight fleets of heavy mining equipment to remove overburden and mine steel-making coal consistent with current contractual arrangements. The Golding-owned assets employed consist of those assets purchased as part of the HSE SWC contract acquisition that completed on August 1, 2024.

South Walker Creek is an open-cut mine 35 km west of Nebo in Queensland’s Bowen Basin. The mine has been operating since 1996 and adopts a multi-bench, open-cut mining method uising a dragline, and truck and hydraulic excavators. With a mine life of 25-plus years, South Walker Creek produced 4.9 Mt of high-quality low volatile PCI coal in the 2021 financial year. Stanmore Resources acquired BHP’s 80% interest in BMC in May 2022, becoming the operator of South Walker Creek.

The MSA provides employment to approximately 650 personnel mostly residing within the region.

NRW Chief Executive Officer, Jules Pemberton, said: “I am delighted to announce that NRW has been awarded this contract with Stanmore,
allowing us to build on the successful relationship we have had with Stanmore over a long period. NRW’s drilling and blasting subsidiary ADB is currently working with Stanmore at SWC and Golding now renews its prior association. With the addition of the SWC MSA, NRW’s order book climbs to a record A$7 billion. I look forward to a successful partnership with Stanmore.”

NRW Holdings wins Evolution Mining contract at Mungari

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NRW Holdings Limited has been awarded a contract by Evolution Mining (Mungari) Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Evolution Mining Limited, for surface mining at Castle Hill.

The project is in the heart of the Goldfields, 50 km northwest of Kalgoorlie and 40 km north of Coolgardie, ideally situated to allow NRW to engage with local businesses and further develop the local community partnerships established by the Mungari Operations, it said.

The works to be performed include load and haul, drill and blast and construction of site supporting facilities. The drill and blast component will be undertaken by Action Drill & Blast Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of NRW Holdings Limited.

In Evolution’s 2023 reserve statement, the company highlighted that it had probable open-pit reserves of 33.2 Mt at 1.05 g/t Au, for 1.12 Moz of gold.

The anticipated value of the contract is circa A$360 million ($242 million) commencing November 2024 and expected to be completed by mid-2030. The project will average 150 personnel.

NRW Chief Executive Officer, Jules Pemberton, said: “I am delighted to announce that NRW has been awarded this contract with Evolution Mining. NRW has a long history as a high quality provider of mining services to our clients and I look forward to a successful partnership with Evolution.”

NRW’s Golding to take contract mining reins at Stanmore’s South Walker Creek mine

Explosives and blasting, Mine operation news, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , , ,

NRW Holdings Limited’s wholly owned subsidiary, Golding Contractors Pty Ltd, has executed an agreement to acquire the mining services contract, associated fleet and transfer of the employees that HSE Mining Pty Ltd has deployed to Stanmore Resources Limited’s South Walker Creek (SWC) mine site, in Queensland, Australia.

The transaction value of A$85 million ($56 million) less assumed employee liabilities of approximately A$15.3 million, will be funded via NRW’s asset finance facilities.

The transaction will see Golding employ approximately 550 HSE personnel and operate the heavy mining equipment presently deployed at SWC. The mining services contract to be novated to Golding as part of the acquisition is expected to generate annual revenue of approximately A$250 million, and unless further extended by agreement between Golding and Stanmore, expires in August 2025.

South Walker Creek is an open-cut mine 35 km west of Nebo in Queensland’s Bowen Basin. The mine has been operating since 1996 and adopts a multi-bench, open-cut mining method uising a dragline, and truck and hydraulic excavators. With a mine life of 25-plus years, South Walker Creek produced 4.9 Mt of high-quality low volatile PCI coal in the 2021 financial year. Stanmore Resources acquired BHP’s 80% interest in BMC in May 2022, becoming the operator of South Walker Creek.

Jules Pemberton, Managing Director and CEO, said: “I am delighted that NRW has been successful in acquiring the HSE Mining assets and inventory and securing the novation of the mining services contract with Stanmore at South Walker Creek. NRW, through our Golding and Action Drill & Blast businesses, has had a long association with Stanmore and I look forward to our teams continuing to deliver industry leading services. I also look forward to welcoming the HSE personnel into the Golding and broader NRW team.”

HSE and Golding are working through the transition arrangements, with financial close to occur at the end of July 2024.

Pilgangoora-PilbaraMinerals

Primero to work on next phase of Pilgangoora P680 lithium expansion project

Energy minerals, Mineral project development, Mining services, , , , , , ,

NRW Holdings Limited’s wholly owned subsidiary, Primero Group Limited, has been awarded a contract for Structural, Mechanical, Piping, Electrical and Instrumentation Construction by Pilgangoora Operations Pty Ltd (POPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Pilbara Minerals Limited, for the next phase of the Pilgangoora P680 Expansion project, 120km south of Port Hedland, Western Australia.

The award follows a formal Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase to determine construction methodology, cost and schedule.

Under the contract, Primero is responsible for the construction of the crushing and ore sorting facilities. Primero will also assist with providing commissioning, integration and shutdown support. The contract at award has an approximate value of A$64 million ($40.7 million), with the contract scheduled for completion in the September quarter of 2024 with the works commencing immediately.

Primero’s Managing Director, Michael Gollschewski, said: “It is pleasing for Primero to be awarded this contract following the combined efforts of Primero and POPL teams in the successful delivery of the first stage of the P680 Expansion. We look forward to building on what is already a strong partnership with the POPL team.”

NRW’s Managing Director, Jules Pemberton, added: “This award continues to build on the long association between Pilbara Minerals and Primero that began with the design and construction of the original Pilgan Plant and continues with the delivery of the P680 Expansion Project. We look forward to the successful completion of these works.”

The P680 Expansion project could see Pilbara Minerals step-up its production run-rate at the operation to a total of circa-680,000 t/y of spodumene concentrate across the combined Pilgangoora operation.

NRW’s Primero Group awarded major EPC contract for KCGM Growth Project

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NRW Holdings says its wholly owned subsidiary Primero Group Limited has entered into an EPC contract with Northern Star Resources Limited for its KCGM Growth Project in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

The execution of the engineering, procurement and construction contract follows an extensive program of work to define the scope, cost and schedule, according to NRW. Under the agreement, Primero will be responsible for the design, procurement, construction and commissioning of the process plant facilities, with the commercial model for delivery an “Incentivised Target Cost”.

The EPC contract has an approximate value of A$973 million ($647 million). The contract is scheduled for completion by the September quarter of 2026.

Last month, Northern Star announced the final investment decision on the KCGM Mill Expansion project, agreeing to invest A$1.5 billion to boost the mill’s capacity to 27 Mt/y, from 13 Mt/y. Included within this is 20 MW grinding mills – the highest powered, gear-driven mills in the world – and the first gear-driven 28 ft (8.5 m) diameter ball mill, according to FLSmidth.

Primero participated in a competitive early contractor involvement (ECI) program from January 2022 and has worked with the Northern Star project team to develop a technically-superior design that will bring operating benefits to the Fimiston processing plant, it says. Following the ECI program, Primero was engaged to undertake further value engineering and scope development.

Primero’s Managing Director, Michael Gollschewski, said: “The execution of the KCGM Growth Project is the culmination of an 18-month journey with Northern Star. The work conducted to date to develop the capital cost, design, execution strategy and schedule for the project, has been one of the most comprehensive and rigorous ECI programs we have participated in. The effort of the combined teams to define this key project has provided a solid foundation for a safe, efficient and successful delivery.”

NRW’s Managing Director, Jules Pemberton, said: “This EPC contract reinforces Primero’s reputation as a leading provider of world class engineering and construction services. This
project showcases Primero’s full range of in-house capability. I look forward to developing a long-term relationship with one of the industry’s leading gold producers.”

NRW Holdings wins contract mining gig at Allkem’s Mt Cattlin open-pit lithium mine

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NRW Holdings Limited says it has been issued with a Letter of Intent from Allkem Limited in respect to the contract for mining services works at the Mt Cattlin open-pit lithium mine in Western Australia.

Formal award of the contract is subject to finalising outstanding terms, but the anticipated value of the contract is circa-A$332 million ($220 million) over a 36-month duration and the project will be supported by a workforce of approximately 140 people, mostly sourced from the surrounding area.

The works to be performed under the contract include load & haul, drill & blast and material rehandling. NRW will use an existing fleet comprising 200-250-t-class excavators and 150-t-class trucks together with ancillary plant. Mobilisation is currently underway preparing for commencement on site in August.

The Mt Cattlin operation produced circa-194,000 t/y of spodumene concentrate grading up to 6% Li20 in the 2022 financial year to June 30, 2022, according to Allkem.

NRW Chief Executive Officer, Jules Pemberton, said: “I am delighted to announce that NRW has been selected by Allkem as its preferred contractor for the mining services contract. NRW is a world leading provider of services across all aspects of the Lithium sector and we look forward to a long and successful partnership with Allkem.”

Primero to deliver non-process infrastructure for Rio Tinto’s Western Range site

Mine operation news, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , ,

NRW Holdings says its wholly owned subsidiary, Primero Group Limited, has been awarded a contract by Rio Tinto for work at the Western Range mine site, within the Pilbara Region of Western Australia.

Under the contract, Primero will be responsible for the design, supply, construction and commissioning of the non-process infrastructure facilities on site. This includes the refuelling facility, mobile equipment maintenance facility, primary crusher maintenance facility, washdown facilities, wastewater treatment plant and water infrastructure.

The contract is scheduled to run for approximately 12 months commencing in April 2023 and has an approximate value of A$54 million ($35 million).

NRW’s Managing Director, Jules Pemberton, said: “This is an exciting opportunity as we continue to reinforce our long-term relationship with Rio Tinto through the delivery of world-class, non-process infrastructure, design and construction performed in-house by Primero
Group.”

NRW’s Primero to work on Pilgangoora P680 Expansion Project

Energy minerals, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

NRW Holdings subsidiary, Primero Group, has been awarded a contract by Pilgangoora Operations Pty Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pilbara Minerals Limited, for work at the lithium processing plant that is part of the wider Pilgangoora operation, in Western Australia.

The works to be performed under the contract include upgrading the existing Pilgan lithium processing plant through the construction of a new primary rejection facility and preliminary work in connection with a new crushing and ore sorting facility.

Under the contract, Primero will be responsible for detailed earth and concrete works associated with both the primary rejection and crushing and sorting facilities, together with structural, mechanical, piping, electrical and instrumentation installation associated with the primary rejection facility. Primero will also assist with shutdown, brownfield’s integration and commissioning support to tie the facility into the existing Pilgan plant.

The contract is scheduled to run for approximately eight months, commencing in January 2023, and has an approximate value of A$62 million ($44 million).

NRW Managing Director, Jules Pemberton, said: “This contract builds on a long-term association between POPL and Primero that began with Primero’s involvement in the design and construction of the original Pilgan plant. We look forward to the successful completion of these works.”

The construction activities due to take place on the plant are part of the wider P680 Expansion Project Pilbara Minerals is working on. This could see the company step-up its production run-rate at the operation to a total of circa-680,000 t/y of spodumene concentrate across the combined Pilgangoora operation.

NRW Holdings’ Primero to operate and maintain Finniss lithium processing plant

Energy minerals, Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , , ,

NRW Holdings Limited’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Primero Group, has executed a long term contract for the operations and maintenance (O&M) of Core Lithium’s processing plant and related infrastructure at its Finniss lithium project in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Under the terms of the contract, Primero will operate and maintain the processing and infrastructure facilities at Finniss for an initial term of five years, with option to extend.

The estimated value of the contract is A$60 million ($38 million), and follows on from the current contract in execution for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of Finniss, awarded to Primero in September 2021.

The O&M contract signed between Core Lithium and Primero highlights the unparalleled industry expertise and proven track record in lithium processing and operational excellence outcomes, NRW said.

“Primero continues to grow its portfolio of contract operation and maintenance services across the base and battery metals sectors with a strong track record of delivery and giving customers assurance of safe outcomes, accelerated plant ramp-up, ongoing operational excellence practices, and continuous improvement to achieve cost effective and optimised production outcomes,” it added.

Primero says it has the majority of key personnel on hand for deployment into the contract commencing from October 2022 and expects to complete all remaining recruitment and operational readiness activities by December 2022, ready for first production.

NRW CEO, Jules Pemberton, said: “The diversification of the Primero business into longer term operational contracts is continuing to grow with this award showcasing the depth and operational knowledge of the group, especially within the battery minerals sector. The capability to develop and operate assets of this nature is well aligned with the group’s strategy over the coming years and will continue to evolve with build own operate and equity style investments in projects. We look forward to a long-term relationship with Core Lithium.”

In mid-2021, Core released a definitive feasibility study for the Finniss project, marking a major milestone in its goal to become Australia’s next major lithium producer by the end of 2022.

The study highlighted an average production of 173,000 t/y of high-quality lithium concentrate at a C1 operating cost of $364/t and a start-up capital cost of A$89 million ($56 million) thanks to the incorporation of a 1 Mt/y DMS processing plant in the project’s design.

Golding wins four-year extension at Kogan Creek coal mine

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Golding Contractors Pty Ltd has signed a contract with Aberdare Collieries Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of CS Energy Pty Ltd (CS Energy), to extend the current Contract Mining Agreement (CMA) at the Kogan Creek Mine in Queensland, Australia, to beyond June 30, 2022.

Under the terms of the CMA, the term is extended four years until 30 June 2026, with an option for CS Energy to extend the contract for up to another four years, the NRW Holdings subsidiary said. The contract value for the initial four-year extension is around A$150 million ($110 million).

The contract extension represents the third mining contract term and life-of-mine to date for Golding and CS Energy at Kogan Creek, with Golding performing the civil works in 2006 before mining commenced in 2007.

Kogan Creek is an open-cut mine located in the Surat Basin of southern Queensland. The mine supplies the adjacent Kogan Creek Power Station with approximately 2.5 Mt/y of coal. Golding undertook civil works for the initial construction of the mine before becoming the mine operator in 2006.

Under this new arrangement all major plant and equipment will be supplied by Golding requiring a total new capital spend of circa-A$11 million in the first year. All the remaining fleet required is currently operating on site and is Golding owned.

Golding will continue to employ some 70 people at the mine, most of which live in the local Chinchilla or broader southeast Queensland regions. The scope of work includes: mine design and planning, drilling and blasting, overburden and parting removal as well as selective coal mining from over 30 different plies to ensure coal meets strict specifications.

NRW CEO & Managing Director, Jules Pemberton, said: “This extended agreement is the longest continuous contract in Golding’s proud history. Golding has now successfully negotiated four contract extensions with four different clients in the last six months demonstrating the business’ goal to work with our clients to deliver sustained value.”