South Australian Treasurer Kevin Foley has announced that local, Australian and New Zealand Suppliers have won more than $450 million worth of contracts for the development of OZ Mineral’s billion dollar Prominent Hill copper and gold mining project.
Foley said $170 million of the contracts were identified through the work of the State Government’s Industry Capability Network, which had supplied a list of companies that were capable of meeting OZ Minerals’ requirements and performance standards.
“More than $150 million of those contracts will be going to local business which is a fantastic result for this state,” Foley said.
South Australian companies involved in the development of Prominent Hill include Lucas Earthmovers, Krueger Engineering, Ahrens, Nilsen and Bolnar.
The Industry Capability Network SA (ICNSA) is a program under the Department of Trade and Economic Development, which works to get local suppliers and businesses involved in major projects.
OZ Minerals, formed earlier this year through the merger of Australian-based mining companies Oxiana and Zinifex, is developing one of South Australia’s largest mines at Prominent Hill, 650 km northwest of Adelaide. The mine is scheduled to begin full production in late 2008.