is this a concern ?24 Jan 2013 10:38
Taken from the RNS
"The main mining contract at Thakadu mine, which is due to expire on 31 March 2013, is currently under review and being renegotiated. Pursuant to this, certain mining equipment has been demobilised. In the interim, mining operations continue with both the existing main contractor and a second Thakadu mining contractor who has been on-site since mining commenced at Thakadu. As a short term measure, management is also looking at equipment hire or short term contracts to augment mining volumes. As a result of the negotiations around the mining contract, the Company is expecting that less volume will be mined from Thakadu until additional equipment is delivered and the mining contract review finalised. The reduction in mining volumes is likely to result in lower mining costs. Any impact on ore delivery during a possible transition phase will be mitigated by the use of oxide ore stockpiles situated at Thakadu and Mowana Mines but the use of reagents to treat the oxide ore will increase treatment costs, reducing the benefit of the lower mining costs. "