Underground expansion at Prominent Hill

Date: 27th July 2010
Project: Prominent Hill
Organisation: OZ Minerals
ASX: OZL
Highlight: $135 million to be spent on new underground mine
Contact for project work: Prominent Hill Office (08) 8229 6600

The board of OZ Minerals have approved the construction of a new underground operation at their Prominent Hill mine in northern South Australia. All government approvals have been granted.

Preproduction expenditure on construction and other costs is expected to be $135 million. Construction will begin immediately with an instant need for a drilling contractor for the construction of ventilation shafts. First production is expected to be in the last quarter of 2011, with full production achieved in the second half of 2012.

The new mine will exploit the copper deposit to the west of the main open cut mine and will contribute an average of 25,000t of copper and 12,000oz of gold each year. The ore will be processed using the existing facilities established to process the ore from the main pit. The chalcocite-bornite deposit will be mined using sub-level open stoping techniques. The mine life of the underground western copper deposit is expected to be 5 years.

Exploration for similar deposits in the surrounding districts continues.

This project is an opportunity for firms providing

• Drilling services
• Engineering
• Construction
• Metal fabrication
• Equipment supply
• Mining contractors
• Site services

For more information visit:
www.ozminerals.com/