Develop awarded Bellevue Gold mining contract

The contract, which is valued at approximately AUS$400 million and covers a period of almost four years, provides for Develop’s Underground Services division to undertake construction, development and production activities at the underground mine. Commencement date for the contract is in the June quarter 2022.

Develop has established a highly experienced team of underground mining specialists led by Managing Director Bill Beament. Beament is the former Executive Chair of gold miner Northern Star Resources and was previously General Manager of Operations at major underground mining contractor, Barminco.

The Develop Underground Services team also includes Paul Nilsson, Manager Mining Underground, and Aaron Armstrong, Maintenance Manager Underground.

Both Nilsson and Armstrong held senior management roles for over 10 years at Northern Star Resources and Barminco.

Develop has appointed Jordan Hall as Project Manager for the Bellevue contract. Hall spent 19 years working for leading mining contractor Byrnecut, during which time he was employed predominantly in senior management roles at major WA projects such as the Jundee gold mine and Golden Grove base metals project.

In addition, Develop has recently recruited a significant number of underground personnel and secured key equipment. This capability ensures Develop has ready-access to a deep pool of underground mining specialists and the latest machinery for use at Bellevue.

Beament said Develop had established an exceptional team of highly experienced underground mining specialists.

“Our team is perfectly suited to the Bellevue project, with decades of underground development and production experience, particularly in WA gold projects,” he said.

“We have access to an extensive pool of specialists across the required disciplines, many of whom are unquestionably world-class, and we are well-advanced in securing the latest equipment.

“Our business model has attracted extensive interest from industry people, we have strong track records of operational excellence on all levels and we are ready to deploy our skills and expertise.”

Beament said Bellevue’s strong commitments to environmental, social and governmental targets were aligned with Develop’s own core beliefs.

“This is an enormous opportunity for both companies,” he added. “Bellevue is an exceptional gold asset with a great production outlook and low all-in sustaining costs in the heart of WA.

“It is one of the largest contracts in the WA gold mining industry. It is also one of the most environmentally ambitious projects, with the aim of producing Australia’s first carbon-neutral gold.

“I have no doubt that applying the combined skills and experience of the Bellevue and Develop teams to this exceptional asset will ensure strong returns for all stakeholders.”

The Bellevue contract will be executed by Develop’s Underground Services division. This will be conducted in parallel with Develop’s exploration and development activities at its Woodlawn zinc-copper project in New South Wales and its Sulphur Springs copper-zinc project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/finance-business/14042022/develop-awarded-bellevue-gold-mining-contract/