Alien Metals has selected Regroup Australia to provide mining operations and haulage services for its Hancock iron ore project in Western Australia.
Through Alien Metals’ wholly owned subsidiary Iron Ore Company of Australia (IOCA), Regroup has been selected as the preferred contractor for the construction of an intersection of the project area at the Great Northern Highway, as well as an access track from the Great Northern Highway to the mine site.
The company will also provide mining services, including drilling and blasting activities in addition to haulage services for ore from the mine site to Port Hedland.
In a press statement, Alien Metals said: “The selection of Regroup as the primary contractor for construction and operations for the Hancock Project significantly de-risks the project and removes inherent interface and delay risk across the mine construction and operational activities.”
The contract is subject to the completion of a positive definitive feasibility study (DFS) on the project, approvals, funding and the final investment decision.
Alien Metals CEO Troy Whittaker said: “Regroup has set the goal of becoming carbon neutral via the use of a fully battery-powered fleet and the utilisation of solar and wind to help power their sites.
“That combined with their commitment to advancing indigenous businesses, notably through the championing of Maramara in Western Australia, a majority indigenous-owned proprietary limited company, is one of the reasons why we teamed up with Regroup.”
Earlier this month, Alien Metals announced the start of DFS for the Hancock project to optimise the mine plan, infrastructure layouts, and the final capital and operating cost estimates.
Regroup managing director Michael Still said: “In being a greenfields site, the Hancock Project lends itself well to autonomous and electrified solutions for both the mining and bulk haulage fleet.
“We will continue to work with our partners in Scania and Janus to integrate new and emerging technologies where practical, both on-site and in Port Hedland. The consolidation of the construction and operational activities under one group will facilitate speed-to-market for IOCA and provide us with the opportunity to embed our expertise early in the project.”
