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    OceanaGold Didipio Sandvik fleet renewal: production and cost lens for mine engineers

    April 6, 2026|

    Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

    OceanaGold Didipio Sandvik fleet renewal: production and cost lens for mine engineers

    First reported on International Mining – News

    30 Second Briefing

    OceanaGold’s Didipio gold-copper mine in the Philippines is ramping underground production from 1.7 Mt/y to 2.5 Mt/y with a new Sandvik load and haul fleet now arriving on site. The order comprises two LH621i 21 t-capacity loaders, three TH663i 63 t trucks and one rebuilt TH663 truck, replacing older units to support higher ore hoisting rates. The fleet renewal targets lower unit mining costs, improved fuel and tyre performance, and more consistent cycle times in the deepening underground operation.

    Technical Brief

    • Rebuilt TH663 truck extends existing capital investment while standardising the fleet around a single truck class.
    • Common Sandvik i-series platform enables unified control systems, diagnostics and parts inventory across loaders and trucks.
    • Digital readiness of the i-series units allows future integration of telemetry, production monitoring and potential automation.
    • New fleet specification supports tighter control of cycle times, particularly on longer ramp hauls from deeper levels.
    • Standardised truck–loader combination simplifies operator training and reduces variability in loading and tipping practice.
    • Similar mid-life fleet renewals at underground mining operations often coincide with step-changes in hoisting and ventilation design.

    Our Take

    OceanaGold features across several of our recent gold items, from underground development at Waihi North to high-grade drilling at Wharekirauponga, signalling a clear tilt towards deeper, higher-complexity underground assets alongside Didipio in the Philippines.

    The move to a Sandvik LH621i/TH663i fleet at the Didipio gold-copper mine mirrors Sandvik’s recent wins at Aris Mining’s Marmato and Codelco’s Chuquicamata Underground, reinforcing Sandvik’s position as a preferred supplier for high-tonnage underground gold and copper operations.

    Lifting underground output from 1.7 Mt/y to 2.5 Mt/y at Didipio positions this Philippine operation as a more material contributor to OceanaGold’s gold and copper mix at a time when open-pit gold mines in our coverage are seeing margin pressure from higher oil-linked energy costs.

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    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

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