Thiess locks in $1.9b contract with BHP

Thiess has locked in a six-year contract extension with BHP for the Mount Arthur South coal operations in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales.

Worth $1.9 billion, this contract will see Thiess continue to provide mining services at the Mount Arthur South mine, operating and maintaining mining equipment to support BHP’s production requirements, and working with BHP and the local community towards the planned mine closure in 2030.

“This contract extension acknowledges Thiess’ strong safety record and ongoing operational performance, and builds on the longstanding relationship between Thiess and BHP that started more than 30 years ago,” Thiess Group executive chair and chief executive officer Michael Wright said.

“We are strongly aligned with BHP in our commitment to diversity in our workforce, as demonstrated by our award winning MASITE program, which has resulted in significant increases in the number of our local Indigenous and female employees.”

Thiess has provided mining services to Mount Arthur since 2017.

Thiess first provided load and haul services. This then expanded in 2018 to include additional mining services, including mining overburden and coal, mine design, planning and scheduling services and drill and blast operations at the southern end of the operation.

Since October 2018, Thiess has acted as the mine operator at the Ayredale and Roxburgh pits at the southern end of Mount Arthur.

“Thiess has played a key part in supporting the local economy and community of the Hunter Valley region, dating back 80 years, and we are proud to be given the opportunity to continue our presence in the region alongside BHP,” Thiess Group executive Australia East Rae O’Brien said.

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