BHP awards ore mining works to Macmahon
Australian Macmahon Holdings Limited (Macmahon) will carry out the mining and crushing works for BHP Billiton's new “Orebody 18” open cut iron ore mine for approximately A$250 million ($182.7 million). The construction works for the new satellite mine to be located 34 kilometres east of Newman, in Western Australia's Pilbara region will commence in February 2006. Macmahon will undertake the full range of mining services including drilling, blasting, loading and hauling of iron ore and waste materials. The ore processing services will also include the maintenance of the BHP Billiton owned ore processing facilities. When fully operational, the new mine is expected to produce up to 8 million metric tons iron ore per annum during the contract period.