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leader in creating the long-term jobs of the mine in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. lenges for organisations, and I’m confident
future through automation. BHP has the option of extending the ini- our combined offering will provide timely im-
“Technology is a multiplier of jobs and tial five-year 12 mtpa contract for a further provements for our clients,” Siecap founder
through this investment up to 10 regional two years. and chief executive David Irvine said.
businesses, including indigenous busi- Minset director Anthony Tarsilli added:
nesses, would share in $35 million worth Siecap, Minset find “Supporting Siecap as their business im-
of contracts, creating 150 project jobs on provement partner allows us to link an even
top of the 56 new permanent jobs on site,” common ground wider network of specialist experience. For
he said. clients, they gain a broader suite of capa-
“Queensland’s resources industry will Brisbane-based companies Siecap and bilities via a more seamless experience for
continue to invest in technology to ensure Minset are joining forces with the aim of complex projects. Together, we are able to
it maintains leading practices in safety and “closing the performance gap” to deliver deliver a much better solution.”
innovation which will secure the sector’s sustainable cost improvements for a larger Siecap’s “closing the gap” initiative looks
competitiveness over other mining juris- client base. at ways to keep clients’ cost position sus-
dictions around the world.” In announcing the partnership last month, tainable through all parts of the cycle. The
Meanwhile, BHP has awarded a mile- Siecap and Minset said their respective ca- combined service will scrutinise organisa-
stone contract to CSI Mining Services – a pabilities could provide clients with a bigger tions and challenge every single aspect of
wholly owned subsidiary of Mineral Re- and more effective team to deliver cost im- operations – including the “sacred cows” –
sources Ltd – for the design, construction provement programmes. to find smarter ways to achieve sustainable
and operation of the new NextGen crush- “Commodity downturns and the pressures improvements in cost and productivity.
ing plant at the Mt Whaleback iron ore of COVID-19 led to significant cost chal-
Power solution confirmed
Siecap and Minset
have joined forces for Oyu Tolgoi
Rio Tinto Ltd, Turquoise Hill and the Gov-
ernment of Mongolia have reached agree-
ment on the preferred domestic power so-
lution for Oyu Tolgoi that will pave the way
for the latter to fund and construct a state-
owned power plant at Tavan Tolgoi.
The agreement, which is a revision of
the power source framework agreement
signed in 2018, states all parties will work
towards finalising a power purchase agree-
ment by the end of March 2021. In addition,
the amended framework agreement sets a
proposed timetable for development, with
construction of a coal-fired power plant to
begin no later than July 2021, and commis-
sioning within four years thereafter.
Oyu Tolgoi currently uses imported
power and both the Government of Mon-
golia and Oyu Tolgoi have committed to
extending the current arrangement to en-
sure continued stable power is supplied to
the mine and underground project until the
state-owned power plant is commissioned
and able to supply stable, reliable and con-
tinuous power.

NUCLEUS

+ 27 (0)11 028 1181 info@nucleusml.co.za www.nucleusml.co.za

aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT aUgUST 2020 Page 53