The initial North Pit scope of work from the client, Black Mountain Mining, included the establishment of a fleet of mining equipment, workshops, offices, stores and related support facilities on site, the formation of access ramps, as well as mining of ore and waste material. Additional work includes drilling, blasting, presplit as well as trimming of final pit walls, forming and maintaining dumps and ore stockpiles, construction of haul roads and implementing dust control measures. A total of 51 million BCMs of waste and ore will be mined over the initial 44-month contract period: 48 million of waste and 3 million of ore. The current annual production of 17,2 million BCMs is expected to increase year-on-year over the remaining contract period, peaking at 19,6 million BCMs in year four. Post the initial contract award, the scope of work was increased to include crusher feed and ore re-handle. Subsequently, the South Pit mining contract, which includes drill, blast, load and haul of waste and ore, was awarded. A total of 9.1 million BCMs of waste and ore will be mined over a 20-month contract period: 7.8 million of waste and 1.3 million of ore.
