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This morning Sandfire Resources provided a pictorial update of progress at its Motheo Copper Mine in Ghanzi. First pre-strip material has been mined at the T3 Open Pit deposit, approximately one week ahead of schedule against the project execution plan.
The start of open pit mining by Sandfireβs contracting partner, African Mining Services (AMS), a division of Perenti Global Limited (ASX: PRN), marks another important milestone towards the start of copper
production mid 2023.
AMS and their Equipment Partners, Caterpillar, Hitachi and Sandvik have commenced mining ahead of schedule having successfully managed the impacts of global supply chain delays and COVID-19, a significant achievement.
The CAT 785 depicted is the first of a fleet that will grow to 20+ over the next two years.
The first Hitachi EX 2600 has been commissioned and commenced operation. A second Hitachi EX2600 and the first of two Hitachi EX1900βs are being assembled and will commence operation shortly.
Motheo is a substantial new long-life copper mine and one of the few new copper mines under construction anywhere in the world. It is expected to become the cornerstone of a long-term copper mining hub for Sandfire in the world-class Kalahari Copper Belt.
Sandfire Managing Director and CEO, Karl Simich, said: βThe start of open pit mining operations represents another important step on the road to production, and to have achieved this milestone ahead of schedule is a testament to the hard work of our project execution team in Botswana, led by
Project Director, Ian Kerr.”
