MARATHON, Ont. — Barrick Gold has hired an Australian mining services company to provide underground contract mining at its Hemlo mine near Marathon.
The three-year contract with Barminco is worth about US$130 million, according to Barminco's parent company Perenti.
Last October, Barrick announced it was making operational changes–including a move to underground contract mining–and introducing new technology to extend the mine's life.
Perenti's statement said it will employ more than 300 people at the operation, starting in April.
"We intend to work very closely with Barrick and all key stakeholders, including the incumbent workforce at Hemlo, the Pic River and Pic Mobert First Nations people and the Marathon community more generally to deliver a sustainable improvement in performance, thereby assuring the future of Hemlo,” it said.
Barminco plans to bring "industry-leading technology and productivity to Hemlo."
This is the Australian company's first significant contract in North America, but it also operates in Asia and Africa.
The Hemlo mine's general manager, Adam Foulstone, said in a statement that Barminco was selected because it's "a leader in modern underground mining skill."
Another Australian company, Evolution Mining, last year struck a deal to buy Newmont Goldcorp's mining complex at Red Lake.
