Santana Minerals (ASX:SMI) is preparing to accelerate its Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project, 20km north of Cromwell in New Zealand’s South Island.
Santana has secured a new mobile mining equipment fleet from Komatsu (TYO:6301). Conventional PC3400 and PC2000 primary excavators, 140-tonne HD1500 haul trucks, dozers, loaders, and graders will help to prepare for a fast-track approval decision on 29 October 2026. Construction is expected to start shortly after.
Komatsu will provide operational, technical, and financial backing at the project for at least five years. On-site parts capability and discount pricing will also be available. The deal is worth NZ$115 million ($96 million).
“Operating as an owner-miner removes the contractor margin typically embedded in mining costs, setting us up as a lower-cost operation,” CEO Damian Spring says.
“This is further supported by our residential workforce model, avoiding fly-in fly-out costs, and strong OEM support from Komatsu.”
Santana Minerals is a gold explorer with assets mostly in New Zealand.
Write to Richard Szabo at Mining.com.au
Images: Santana Minerals
