Develop secures $400m mining contract for Bellevue Gold Mine in WA

Bellevue Gold’s mine development in Western Australia is progressing and underground mining services will soon begin following the award of a $400 million contract to Develop. 

Develop’s Underground Services division will execute the contract over a four-year period, with works to include construction, development and production at the underground mine. 

For this project, Develop has recruited a significant number of personnel along with the procurement of key equipment to be used in the development of the underground mine. This ensures that the company has a ready-access to resources such as underground mining specialists and the latest machiney. 

“Our team is perfectly suited to the Bellevue project, with decades of underground development and production experience, particularly in WA gold projects. 

“We have access to an extensive pool of specialists across the required disciplines, many of whom are unquestionably world-class, and we are well-advanced in securing the latest equipment. 

“Our business model has attracted extensive interest from industry people, we have strong track records of operational excellence on all levels and we are ready to deploy our skills and expertise,” Develop Managing Director Bill Beament said. 

The Bellevue Gold Project is a high-grade underground gold mine and a 1Mtpa processing plant that will utilise a conventional gravity and leaching circuit as well as conventional underground mining techniques. 

The gold mine has an estimated life of 8.1 years and first gold pour is anticipated in mid-2023. 

Source: Bellevue Gold

Once operational, the Bellevue Gold Mine is projected to be one of Australia’s highest-grade, lowest cost mines within its first five years producing approximately 200,000 ounces of gold annually at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $992 per ounce. On the other hand, the mine is expected to produce an average of 183,000 ounces a year at an AISC of $1,014 per ounce over its 8.1-year life. 

Mr Beament added that Bellevue Gold’s strong commitments to ESG targets align with Develop’s core beliefs. 

“This is an enormous opportunity for both companies. Bellevue is an exceptional gold asset with a great production outlook and low all-in sustaining costs in the heart of WA. 

“It is one of the largest contracts in the WA gold mining industry. It is also one of the most environmentally ambitious projects, with the aim of producing Australia’s first carbon-neutral gold. 

“I have no doubt that applying the combined skills and experience of the Bellevue and Develop teams to this exceptional asset will ensure strong returns for all stakeholders,” Mr Beament said. 

Develop is anticipated to begin works at the mine in June 2022.

Source: Bellevue Gold (1, 2); Australian Mining; International Mining; Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly; NS Energy