Aquirian (ASX:AQN) reports it has entered into a technology funding and rental agreement with First Quantum Minerals (ASX:FQM) to develop the Collar Keeper System (CKS).
The diversified mining services provider says the agreement with First Quantum will ‘fast-track’ the development of the CKS for use on platform drill rigs, as well as immediate preferential access to the CKS system for its current fleet of crawler rigs.
First Quantum Minerals is a tier 1 global mining company, and one of the world’s largest copper producers operating long-life miners across 4 continents.
Aquirian reports it has been a service partner of First Quantum since 2017 and has worked collaboratively on multiple projects across First Quantum’s sites in Africa and Panama, and also states First Quantum is a foundation customer of the Collar Keeper Products being used across a number of sites globally.
Aquirian Executive Director of Business and Innovation Greg Patching said: “We value our long-term relationship with First Quantum Minerals, built upon openness, innovation, consistency and trust. We feel privileged to have a loyal client support our business in such a material way that enables our unique technology to accelerate into development and commercialisation for our customers, their clients and our shareholders.”
“We value our long-term relationship with First Quantum Minerals, built upon openness, innovation, consistency and trust”
First Quantum Minerals Director of Mining John Gregory commented: “First Quantum Minerals looks forward to advancing the development of the CKS Platform Rig system in partnership with Aquirian, who are a long-standing service provider to us.
The CKS is a great innovation which we are currently trialing on crawler rigs, and we expect the development of CKS for platform rigs to be a step-change that will result in significant enhancements to the quality of all drillholes and the effectiveness of blasting at our operations worldwide.”
Under the agreement, Aquirian will ‘fast-track’ the development of the CKS for platform drill rigs starting immediately, and First Quantum will contribute a maximum of AUD $1 million towards this development expected to take around 12 months.
Aquirian will also provide First Quantum with preferential access to the existing CKS Crawler system (currently used in Zambia) and the CKS Platform rig system as it becomes available, allowing them to implement them in line with First Quantum’s drill renewal program expected to be used on 54 drill rigs.
First Quantum will also receive a loyalty discount for the CKS Crawler and Platform rig systems as they become available for its drill fleet.
Aquirian is an emerging mining services company providing Specialised People Services (training, labour, recruitment) under the Modular Training, TBS Workforce and Primed Professionals brands, and mining services (equipment leasing, maintenance and repair, engineering services, drill and blast products and onsite field services) under the Collar Keeper, Cybem Services, TBS Mining Solutions and MagLok brands.
Aquirian has been a service partner of First Quantum Minerals since 2017 and have worked
collaboratively on multiple projects across their sites in Africa and Panama. First Quantum
Minerals is a foundation customer of the Collar Keeper Products, which are being used
across a number of their sites globally.
Images: iStock
