A MESSAGE FROM PYBAR’S GENERAL MANAGER
December 16, 2024Our General Manager, James Glover shares an update on the business and finalisation of the acquisition by Thiess.
Over the last few months, there has been a number of significant achievements and milestones realised including the completion of the Black Rock and Dargues contracts and the completion of the Thiess acquisition.
In August, we celebrated the completion of the Black Rock contract with the successful completion of the development and production of the Black Rock Sub Level Cave. Similarly, at Dargues, the team completed the contract upon hauling the last truck load of ore to the ROM pad followed by formal closure of the mine.
Whilst it is disappointing that these two projects have come to an end, we need to recognise that this is part of the mining cycle. Ore bodies are discovered, subsequently mined and unfortunately depleted over time. On a positive note, the personnel involved in both projects should celebrate the success of their achievements. In both instances, PYBAR was engaged from the initial development to the ore body, the subsequent mining of the ore, and final completion of mining activities.
Meanwhile, at our Eloise Project, PYBAR has secured a 48-month contract to continue to provide underground mine development at the Eloise Mine and now access to and development of the neighbouring Jericho deposit.
Our raise bore team continues to pursue and secure new opportunities, including recently awarded contracts at both Savage River and Stawell.
The acquisition by Thiess is now complete and it has all gone smoothly. The opportunities that we have in front of us as a key part of the Thiess Group are exciting.
In September this year, I had the pleasure of attending the MINExpo event with Thiess, which is held in Las Vegas every four years. Thiess had a stand where we were able to demonstrate the Group’s capabilities to over 45,000 attendees from over 148 different countries. It was a great event and huge in scale with exhibits spread over 78,900 square metres (7.89ha). During the event, there was much discussion around PYBAR’s underground capabilities and potential to provide services across the Americas.
Whilst in the US, Adam Croker and I were hosted by Caterpillar to attend a number of factory tours which included a tour of their technology centre. Interestingly, Caterpillar spend $2.1US B per year on research and development of their products.
Caterpillar is continuously looking at ways to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels through alternate energy sources. In 2025, PYBAR will take delivery of our first CAT R2900XE (diesel/electric) loader which will mark the first step in our own journey to reduce fossil fuel usage whilst also improving our work environment by reducing diesel particulates and heat.
We’re now rapidly approaching the Christmas / New Year festive season, and I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank all our employees, employees’ family members and partners, clients, and supply partners for supporting and providing opportunities for our business.
I’d also like to remind everyone to take care during this period and ensure that we truly embrace our key value of safety whether at work or at home. It’s important we look after our own individual safety and the safety of those we work and live with.