AMAX, a joint venture between Perenti Global’s surface mining business in Africa, African Mining Services (AMS), and Ghana-based mining services company MAXMASS Ltd, has been awarded a new circa-A$470 million ($346 million), five-year contract at AngloGold Ashanti’s Iduapriem gold mine in the Western Region of Ghana.

Perenti’s work in hand will increase by circa-A$280 million over the term of the contract, which is expected to commence immediately.

The new contract is structured as a 60:40 joint venture agreement between AMS and MAXMASS and represents AMS’ significant and ongoing commitment to developing and expanding the capacity and capability of local partners, Perenti explained.

Mark Norwell, Managing Director and CEO of Perenti, said the continued transformation of AMS, including the winning of quality projects underpinned by robust financial and commercial disciplines, remains a key strategic initiative in Perenti’s 2025 Group Strategy.

“We’re delighted to be extending our relationship with our long-standing client, AngloGold Ashanti,” Norwell said. “AMS has a reputation for delivering excellence while generating enduring value and certainty for stakeholders and the award of this new contract at a site where AMS has previously operated for AngloGold Ashanti provides further support for that reputation.”

Perenti Mining Chief Executive Officer, Paul Muller, said AMS had a long history of delivering operational excellence and value to clients, having provided mining services in Ghana for 30 years.

“We have provided surface mining services at the Iduapriem gold mine since 2012, establishing a successful partnership with AngloGold Ashanti,” he said. “We look forward to continuing to strengthen this partnership and also welcome the opportunity to work with our newest joint venture partner, MAXMASS.

“We have a strong commitment to support and build local capability to generate social and economic value for the regions in which we operate. Under this contract, and through the AMAX joint venture, we expect to continue to support the many local businesses that have become important suppliers and contractors to our operations under previous contracts. The joint venture also expects to employ more than 475 Ghanaians with approximately 40% of the workforce employed from the surrounding local communities and the remaining 60% from other regions within Ghana.”

Iduapriem is an open-pit mine with two circuits each comprising two-stage milling – a gravity circuit and a carbon-in-leach (CIL) plant. The gravity circuit recovers about 30% of the gold and the remainder is recovered by the 418,000 t/mth capacity CIL plant, according to AngloGold.