Arabic version: وورك سيف تحقق في حريق حفارة بمنجم سوبر بيت

According to ABC News, WorkSafe WA is investigating a fire that badly damaged the driver’s cab of a Komatsu PC8000 mining shovel at Kalgoorlie’s Super Pit gold mine. No one was injured in the September 9 incident, which occurred during a night shift in the Oroya Brownhill section of the mine, about 600 kilometres east of Perth.

The 750-tonne shovel was operating when the fire occurred. Super Pit owner Northern Star Resources said mine operator Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines immediately activated its emergency response team and extinguished the blaze. The cause has not been disclosed.

Northern Star said there had been no material interruption to Super Pit operations. The company said KCGM had begun contingency plans for the damaged excavator, which had been scheduled for retirement in November 2026 and replacement by a new machine. WorkSafe WA said it was aware of the event and was examining the circumstances surrounding the fire.

Northern Star estimates the PC8000’s replacement cost at $18 million. The machine is one of four PC8000 shovels in the Super Pit open-pit fleet and has a 13,900-litre diesel fuel tank. A new 600-tonne Liebherr R9600 excavator was delivered to the mine in July, while a second shovel is due in October.

The Super Pit has operated since 1989 and employs more than 1,200 workers. Northern Star said the mine is commissioning a $1.7 billion Fimiston Mill expansion and forecasts production could rise to 900,000 ounces a year from 2028-29 following a two-year ramp-up.