PYBAR, an underground mining company and a subsidiary of Thiess, has secured contracts across several sites in Australia, covering both gold and critical minerals.
These include new agreements at the Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project and Fosterville Gold Mine in Victoria, as well as a contract extension at the Rosebery Polymetallic Base Metal Mine in Tasmania.
Thiess Group executive and chair Michael Wright commented on the significance of these contracts, noting PYBAR's crucial role in advancing the underground and critical minerals sectors in Australia.
Wright said: “From supporting Victoria’s critical minerals pipeline at Sunday Creek, to enabling the next phase of expansion and sustainability at Fosterville, and continuing our partnership at Rosebery – each project demonstrates PYBAR’s ability to deliver safely, reliably and at scale across a range of specialist underground mining services.”
At the Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project, located 60km north of Melbourne, Southern Cross Gold Consolidated has appointed PYBAR to deliver an underground decline.
The contract includes tasks such as box cut ground support, primary decline construction, portal establishment and support services. It will also cover lateral development and diamond drilling platforms.
In a separate arrangement, Agnico Eagle has appointed PYBAR to provide raise boring and shaft lining services for the Fosterville Gold Mine, situated 20km from Bendigo.
This project involves the excavation and lining of a 374m-deep, 5.5m-diameter raise bore shaft, which is essential for the mine’s major ventilation upgrade. The infrastructure aims to enhance operational efficiency and support expansion at Fosterville.
PYBAR has also signed a two-year extension of its existing agreement with MMG for shotcrete and cement rockfill services at the Rosebery Polymetallic Base Metal Mine.
The original three-year contract was notable for achieving positive production results without any recordable injuries.
Last year, PYBAR secured an additional three-year contract at Rosebery for underground rehabilitation and development.
