BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) has announced it will invest $100 million in automated vehicles at its Daunia mine in Queensland.
On top of creating new permanent jobs on site, the project will also support 30 additional jobs at Hastings Deering’s Central Queensland operations as they assist with truck and ancillary fleet conversion.
QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said companies in the resources sector, such as BMA, are building high-tech capacity into their operations to improve safety and efficiency.
“Technology is a multiplier of jobs and through this investment up to 10 regional businesses including Indigenous businesses would share in $35 million worth of contracts, creating 150 project jobs on top of the 56 new permanent jobs on site,” he said.
“Queensland’s resources industry will continue to invest in technology to ensure it maintains leading practices in safety and innovation which will secure the sector’s competitiveness over other mining jurisdictions around the world.”
Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt said he welcomes BHP’s commitment to maintain a locally-based workforce even as new automated trucks are introduced onsite.
“The resources sector is delivering on a whole range of jobs across regional Australia, with Central and North Queensland emerging as a leader in new mining technologies,” Minister Pitt said.
BMA said the rollout of the trucks will be completed by the end of 2021.