Ravenswood Gold commissions crushing plant to double output
It’s boomtime at Ravenswood, 150km west of Townsville, where a gold rush means mine managers need more expertise on the ground. FULL LIST OF JOBS.
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One of the region’s biggest projects creating work for more than 1500 people and with more jobs on offer is taking its next giant stride.
The $450m expansion of the Ravenswood Gold mine 120km south of Townsville has advanced with the commissioning of its Buck Reef crushing plant with a capacity of eight to 12 million tonnes per annum.
Further plant upgrades are under way to double production to more than 200,000 ounces a year, making it Queensland’s biggest gold mine.
“It’s exciting to see the crusher in operation after 18 months of construction,” Ravenswood Gold CEO Brett Fletcher said.
“Our growing team has put in a lot of effort to make everything come together and it’s great to see so many local and regional businesses helping us to achieve our goals.
“We already directly employee over 380 people and have hired another 1000 contract workers on the project so far.”
Ausenco has co-ordinated the construction project, supported by Queensland-based contractors, including local electrical business MineLec.
Together, the project team has built 660m of conveyors, pulled 75,000m of electrical cable and hand-filled a huge gabion basket retaining wall with reused waste rock.
More than 1000 people have been involved in delivering the project and Ravenswood Gold’s
permanent workforce has increased to over 380 with a further 200 contractors employed in areas such as catering and earthmoving.
A third stage of the expansion project’s plant upgrade — a new ball mill that will double the current milling capacity — is in the final stages of construction.
The upgrade will include installing a beneficiation circuit that will reject the coarse, lower grade waste from the higher grade material using an existing screening process.
Process Technician Cyril Duffy of Townsville said it was good to have a job like this close to home.
“There’s a good team environment and I enjoy being part of what will be Queensland’s largest gold mine,” Mr Duffy said.
The company is seeking another 20 people at present in jobs including geologist, environmental superintendent, fixed plant fitter, gold room operator, geotechnical and mining engineers, excavator operator, diesel fitter, heavy vehicle tyre fitter, haulage operator, plant metallurgist and electrical technician.
The expansion will see the mine, which has been operating for over 30 years, continue for at least another 14 years.
Current job vacancies are available at www.ravenswoodgold.com/careers.
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Originally published as Ravenswood Gold commissions crushing plant to double output
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