Barrick Selects Sandvik for Porgera Surface Fleet

Barrick Gold Corporation has ordered seven surface drill rigs from Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions to replace an existing fleet at the Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea. The order includes four DR410i rotary blasthole rigs and three Leopard™ DI650i down-the-hole rigs, with deliveries scheduled between June and November 2025. The mine resumed operations in late 2023 and is operated by Barrick Niugini on behalf of New Porgera Limited, a company jointly owned by PNG stakeholders, Barrick, and Zijin.

All drills will be connected via Sandvik’s Remote Monitoring Service, which Barrick implemented across its global underground fleet in 2023. Two Leopard™ DI650i rigs will include reverse circulation sampling for grade control. The surface contract follows an earlier agreement covering underground equipment deliveries to Porgera, continuing through 2028.

“We are excited to grow our partnership with Barrick from underground to the surface operation, where we will provide our latest technologies and collaborate to optimize productivity and cost efficiencies,” said Mats Eriksson, President of Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions.

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