BUMA Australia has been awarded a new $550 million contract by BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) to provide pre-strip mining services at the Blackwater mine.

The deal will see BUMA Australia, a subsidiary of Indonesia’s PT Bukit Makmur Mandiri Utama, provide those services until June 2026.

It will involve an average of about 36 million bcm of overburden removal each year.

BUMA Australia acquired Downer EDI’s Open Cut Mining East business for $150 million late last year.

The Open Cut Mining East acquisition included the transition of all people, mining services contracts, assets, systems and intellectual property.

Parent company Delta Dunia said the contract extension at Blackwater reflected the confidence that BMA and its joint venture participants have in BUMA Australia’s ability to operate large and complex mining projects

BUMA Australia also carries out pre-strip mining services at BMA’s Goonyella mine.

BUMA Australia said it would continue to support the local community through its training and employment program for First Nations Australians for the duration of the new agreement.

BUMA Australia will also continue its support for local Blackwater primary and secondary schools, offering supplies for learning and recreation

“BUMA Australia has a proud history in Central Queensland and with our client BMA at Blackwater,” BUMA Australia Blackwater project manager Barry McKeown said.

“The strong ongoing partnership between both parties on site is something we all work hard at and are very proud of.”