Mining services company Bis has been awarded a contract extension to provide haulage services for Whitehaven Coal’s Tarrawonga and Rocglen coal mines near Gunnedah in New South Wales.
A three-year extension will see Bis deliver an innovative haulage solution through a new fleet of enhanced prime movers to support the Gunnedah operations.
The bespoke haulage solution provides greater payload capacity while reducing the number of prime movers, delivering cost efficiencies and benefits to Whitehaven Coal.
According to Bis, the new combinations provide benefits to the local community, including a reduction in one-way trips by 36 per cent or approximately 48,000 fewer trips per annum when compared to the current fleet.
This will significantly reduce vehicle emissions, and contribute to improved local road safety and amenity.
Bis has provided a range of haulage solutions, underground equipment hire and site services to support Whitehaven’s operations for the past five years.
The company explains it is also an active and committed member of the local community, providing support to many organisations in the region.
This includes a partnership with the Girls Academy in Gunnedah, who provide in-school programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls.
Commenting on Bis’s contract extension award, Whitehaven Coal’s Chief Operating Officer, Jaimie Frankcombe, said the announcement today was at once good for Bis, Whitehaven and the local community.
“This is a great example of two genuinely committed, locally-based companies, continuing a strong commercial partnership that entails real and ongoing benefits for the local area,” said Frankcombe.
“While this obviously represents a more efficient and sustainable haulage solution which will mean fewer trucks on local roads, we have also been very appreciative of the strong support Bis has shown for important local initiatives such as the Girls’ Academy.”
Bis Chief Operating Officer, Michael Porter, said he was delighted to announce the continuation of the company’s strong relationship with Whitehaven.
“We are proud to have been part of the Gunnedah operations since February 2014, working in collaboration with the Whitehaven team to deliver value through innovative solutions,” he said.
“Bis continues to create smarter solutions that drive efficiencies for our customers, as well as benefit the local communities. We look forward to continuing to deliver at Gunnedah and strengthening our successful partnership with Whitehaven Coal.”
Bis was also recently awarded a contract extension to provide load and haul services for Glencore Australia at the Newlands Coal Mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin.
Last month Bis launched an innovative haulage vehicle named Rexx, which can travel four times further than traditional dump trucks. Rexx will deliver significant cost efficiencies to miners through Bis’s service delivery model.