Centamin awarded Capital Drilling (Egypt) LLC with a conditional open-pit waste mining services contract for the East wall in addition to expanding and extending its existing drilling contract at Sukari gold mine.

The waste contract extends for four years beginning in January 2021 and it is expected to complete about 120 million tons (mt) open pit waste stripping at Sukari mine during that period. The contract enables Centamin to accelerate the increased waste stripping program and improve overall operational flexibility in the open pit. As for the amended drilling contract with Capital, Cemtamin extended its longevity from September 30, 2023, to December 31, 2024. It also expanded its rigs by nine blast-hole rigs, bringing total Capital production rigs operating at Sukari to 24.

Martin Horgan, Centamin’s CEO, stated that “with the focus on improving operational flexibility at Sukari, introducing contract-mining over the next few years for waste stripping in the open pit is cost and time effective. Following a rigorous tender process, Capital was determined to be the best suited to deliver what is needed.”