Develop International Restricted has awarded a A$70 million ($48 million) open-pit mining and crushing contract to Kalgoorlie-based MLG Oz Restricted for its Pioneer Dome lithium mine.
The contract ensures Pioneer Dome is on observe for manufacturing within the December quarter of this yr, being one of many main industrial steps within the lead as much as manufacturing and cashflow at Pioneer Dome, following the Board’s Remaining Funding Resolution earlier this month and execution of a binding offtake settlement with Trafigura1 masking a minimal of 750,000 t of DSO lithium.
The scope of the contract consists of drill and blast, load and haul, crushing and screening and all different supporting floor actions. It has an approximate period of 12 months.
MLG was chosen following a aggressive tender course of centered on lowering execution threat and deciding on a contractor with robust operational functionality within the Goldfield’s area and related expertise in floor mining and hard-rock lithium, Develop says. MLG’s Kalgoorlie headquarters, vital regional workforce and upkeep amenities near Pioneer Dome underpinned its choice. MLG additionally has intensive lithium crushing expertise, together with its function at Mineral Assets’ Bald Hill lithium mine.
To enhance MLG, Develop will increase the proprietor’s staff at Pioneer Dome with skilled manufacturing employees.
MLG’s mobilisation is focused for mid-July 2026, with mining operations scheduled to begin in August 2026 and crushing from September 2026.
Develop Managing Director, Invoice Beament, stated: “Awarding this contract to MLG is a serious piece of the Pioneer Dome puzzle. With our FID taken, Trafigura offtake locked in, all approvals in place and now our mining contractor appointed, Pioneer Dome is able to go. This implies we’re very well-positioned to capitalise on the robust lithium market, notably the surging demand for DSO materials, with manufacturing and cashflow to ramp up within the December quarter.
“There’s additionally potential to extend the useful resource grade, as demonstrated by the most recent robust infill drilling outcomes. These reveal constantly thick zones of greater than 1.45% Li2O all through each the deliberate open pit and underground. These excessive grades bode properly for the upcoming updates to the useful resource mannequin and mine plans.”
