Project data
Overview
Prominent Hill is a gold and copper mine located 650km north-west of Adelaide and 130km south-east of Coober Pedy, South Australia.
As of August 2024, Thiess signed a contract extension at Prominent Hill which will see the continued implementation of ROM services and stockpile management.
Thiess began feasibility work at Prominent Hill with original mine owner Oxiana in 2005 and was awarded a six-year infrastructure development and mining contract the following year.
In January 2012, new mine owner OZ Minerals awarded Thiess a contract extension. A subsequent contract change saw our team take management control of all operations pertinent to the Malu Open Pit Mine including blasting design, drilling, surveying, mine planning, geotechnical, geology and systems, until the mine’s closure in 2018.
Central to the hearth of the Prominent Hill operation was OZ Minerals and Thiess’ commitment to ensuring local employment and supply chain opportunities, for Aboriginal people from South Australia. This included members of the local Traditional Owner group AntakirinjaMatu-Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal Corporation (AMYAC).
During the five-year demobilisation program (2013-2018) at Prominent Hill, Thiess and OZ Minerals completed a social impact study identifying the mine closure impacts to local employees, specifically the AntakirinjaMatu-Yankunytjatjara (AMY) people.
A subsequent Run of Mine (ROM) and stockpile rehandling tender provided an opportunity to reduce these impacts.
In 2018, a joint tender submission with Thiess and Anangu Mining was successful securing a $112 million contract to provide stockpile rehandling and ROM services.
Under the five-year contract, Thiess is working closely with Anangu Mining to increase their plant and equipment fleet, labour skills and strengthen their commercial capability to position Anangu Mining for future business development opportunities.
This contract is also providing benefits for local communities including Coober Pedy and Port Augusta, increasing community wellbeing and livability.
As of August 2024, Thiess signed a contract extension at Prominent Hill which will see the continued implementation of ROM services and stockpile management. The success of the agreement is due to Thiess' excellent safety and operational performance.
The initial agreement of 23 months, with a possibility of two 6-month extensions, will allow Thiess to efficiently provide ROM management and crusher feed, ore storage, stockpile management, and ore transportation.
Thiess are eager to further develop our long-standing relationship with the local indigenous group, the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara (AMY) people.
