This week in the Resource Sector

BC Iron has awarded $300m in construction and services contracts as part of development of its Nullagine iron ore project in the East Pilbara. Awarded to Queensland company, Watpac, the contracts include mining, crushing and screening services and a further contract to build a 55km haulage road from Nullagine to Fortescue Metals Group’s Christmas Creek rail line. FMG are a joint venture partner with BC Iron. Watpac is now seeking expressions of interest.

The construction of the processing plant at the Galaxy Resources Mt Cattlin Spodumene Project near Ravensthorpe, Western Australia is progressing on schedule. All major contracts for site works have now been awarded with the exception of the Electrical and Instrumentation package which will be awarded early in the second quarter.

The site earthworks contract has now been completed by Martin’s Mining and Civil of Esperance and the contractor demobilised.

The concrete civil contractor S&N Constructions has completed all the concrete structures in the dry and wet plants and these areas have been handed over to the respective SMP contractors CPC Engineering and Interquip.

Recruitment of a local workforce for the processing plant is nearing completion and training of these personnel will commence in mid May ready for commissioning of the dry plant during June.

Orionstone – a provider of mining equipment and services that was established in the Eastern Goldfields 17 years ago – has been awarded the mining services contract on site. They will provide a Hitachi 1800 excavator, Caterpillar 777D dump trucks, Cat D9 dozer and other ancillary equipment as well as plant operators and maintenance staff.

The drill and blast component of the mining contract will be delivered by an Orionstone subcontractor, Total Drilling Services Pty Ltd who has also been operating in the Goldfields region for many years.

IN THE NEWS

Jody Elliott interviews with Mining Australia on why the mining industry must support the training initiatives of their contracting partners. Read the article here:
http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/article/Q-amp-A-with-Jody-Elliott-Mining-industry-must-support-contractor-training/515199.aspx

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Each week, we draw attention to a particular blog on site that responds to one of the many common challenges we see for those seeking to make a career move, or get a start in the industry.

With so much focus on the Gorgon Project, we continue to update a blog we did in February 2010 on status of the project and who has been awarded contracts. If you are interested in knowing who is, or will be seeking, labour for the project, you’ll see the list here: http://www.theresourcechannel.com.au/blog/gorgon-project-western-australia.