Barminco Selects Sandvik Fleet for Bellevue Gold Project Operations

Barminco, an underground mining contractor within the Perenti Group, manages the underground mining services for Bellevue Gold Limited under a four-year contract starting in August 2026. The Bellevue operation requires accelerated underground development and precise material movement to meet its projected production targets. This scale and the demand for consistent throughput necessitated a technology partnership with Sandvik to provide machinery capable of handling high-payload hauling and automated drilling in complex underground conditions.

Technical Specifications and System Integration
The integrated fleet consists of seven Toro TH663i trucks and six Toro LH517i loaders designed for heavy-duty hauling and loading. These units feature real-time analytics and automation-ready digital interfaces to lower the operating cost per ton.

Drilling operations utilize five Sandvik DL432i longhole drills and five Sandvik DD422i development drills. The development drills are configured with a dual controls package, incorporating split feeds and dual drilling controls. This architectural setup allows operators to execute multitasking sequences, including boring, bolting, and meshing, within a single machine footprint. The equipment leverages digital drilling controls to reduce operational variability and maintain structural precision during excavation. Sandvik also provides the matching rock tools, parts, and technical service support to sustain equipment utilization.

Infrastructure Implementation and Use Cases
The machinery operates at the Bellevue Gold Project, situated 400 kilometers northwest of Kalgoorlie. The mine achieved commercial production status in 2024 and utilizes a renewable digital infrastructure grid, where wind turbines and a solar farm supply approximately 90% of the site's electricity demand.

The primary use cases for the Sandvik fleet involve rapid development sequencing and large-scale ore extraction. Barminco integrates these intelligent units into the mine’s existing operational workflows to manage the high-grade gold extraction process. The advanced connectivity of the vehicles allows data transmission from the underground face to surface control stations, assisting engineering teams with asset tracking and predictive maintenance scheduling.

Expected Operational Impact
The mechanical and digital capabilities of the fleet support long-term process stability and mechanical reliability. By utilizing split-feed drilling controls, the site reduces the time required for structural reinforcement cycles. The high-payload capacities of the haulage fleet, combined with real-time data analytics, stabilize material movement schedules, providing predictable operational outcomes as new mining areas open.

Edited by Natania Lyngdoh, Induportals editor, assisted by AI.

www.mining.sandvik.com