OZ MineralsLtd. announced July 19 that it has appointed a contractor forconstructing the access decline for the Carrapateena copper project in SouthAustralia, and work is scheduled to begin in August.

PYBAR Mining Services will build the 7,500-meter-longdecline to a depth of 600 meters with all associated ground infrastructure andsurface ventilation.

The company said inMay it plans to accelerate the prefeasibility study on the projectand is targeting first copper concentrate production in 2019.