Getting Sirius on Australia Day

Sirius Resources steams ahead on Australia’s big day, to schedule and with $30 million in capital savings. With no compromise on quality or contract specification, this clearly signals the company is serious in undertaking high quality mining projects in the current economic climate.
It was a great Australia Day for Sirius Recourses after its Nova nickel project near Balladonia WA got the nod to commence operations. Exactly two-and-a-half years after announcing its discovery, and receiving final statutory approval, initial mining and construction got underway on Australia’s big day on time and well within budget.
With $30 million in capital savings on original definitive feasibility studies and a considerable reduction in start-up costs, down to $443 million from $473 Million, there was a lot for Managing Director Mark Bennett to be happy about.
“It is very satisfying to have started mining of Nova exactly two and a half years since the announcement of its discovery and even more fitting that such a significant milestone should fall on Australia Day for this world-class project,” he said.
With initial mining of the boxcut expected to take around three months to complete, contractor Barminco, will then commence work on the underground decline with a tree-year agreement valued at $129 million.
Mining Infrastructure is also in full swing with a 200 person capacity expansion and conversion of the exploration camp. This will be a temporary base for the workforce whilst the main accommodation in being built and is due to be finished in March 2015. The permanent accommodation is set to be completed by August 2015 at a cost of $23 million.
Construction equipment for the aerodrome and access roads is currently being mobilised to site and work is already underway. Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) tenders for the processing plant have now closed and the preferred tenderer will be announced in March 2015.
Clearly pleased with the outcome, Mr Bennett went on to say, “It is also pleasing to continue involving local stakeholders such as the traditional owners and local pastoralists in the venture. Our project management team has done a great job getting Sirius to this point so smoothly, so quickly and with the benefit of significant savings.”