KEFI appoints BCM as Tulu Kapi contractor enabling ordering of Cat fleet
KEFI, the gold and copper exploration and development company with projects in Ethiopia and Saudi
Arabia, recently announced that, following the launch of development at the company’s Tulu Kapi Gold
Project, tasks continue to be implemented on schedule. To that end, it has now signed the project’s largest operational contract, the mining services agreement, with BCM Group Ltd for the provision of services valued at more than US$400 million over the initial nine-year mine life.
Under the contract, BCM will provide a comprehensive suite of mining services, including the provision of the mining fleet, training and management of locally recruited operators, and full mining operations under the supervision of KEFI’s Ethiopian subsidiary, Tulu Kapi Gold Mines Share Company (TKGM). The award of this long-term contract follows BCM’s recent mobilisation to Ethiopia, where it is already providing bulk earthworks and drilling services for TKGM.
The agreement also enables BCM to proceed with the ordering and deployment of the Caterpillar mining fleet required for full-scale mining operations at Tulu Kapi. The main Cat dealer in the country is Mantrac Ethiopia. The DFS for the project envisaged a fleet of 18 100 ton (91 t) class Cat 777 trucks, loaded by two Liebherr R 9250 and two Liebherr R 9150 hydraulic excavators together with Epiroc crawler blasthole drill rigs. Ancillary equipment cited in the DFS was mainly from Caterpillar including graders, dozers, water truck and wheel loader.
The contract signing took place in London at the inaugural Ethio-British Investment Forum, in the presence of HE Gedion Timothewos Hessebon, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Paul Coe, Chief Executive Officer of BCM Group, commented: “BCM is a pioneering mining services group, that expanded from Western Australia into West Africa more than thirty years ago. We are proud to support the development of Ethiopia’s mining sector alongside KEFI, particularly given our shared experience of successfully establishing mining projects in emerging jurisdictions, including the Middle East.”
Harry Anagnostaras-Adams, Executive Chairman of KEFI Gold and Copper, commented: “Today’s Ethio-British Investment Forum marks an important milestone in the development of Ethiopia’s private sector and international investment profile. Mining has already emerged as Ethiopia’s leading export generating sector, yet the industry is only beginning to unlock its vast potential. The signing of this major mining services contract with BCM represents another significant step towards the full development and launch of operations at Tulu Kapi. We are delighted to be working with an experienced contractor that shares our pioneering approach and long-term commitment to Ethiopia.”
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