QME, the Navan-based mining company, has announced a substantial new contract win with Boliden Tara Mines. The contract is expected to deliver 80 to 90 new jobs in the region.

QME has been contract-mining at Tara mines for 10 years and faced international competition from Canadian, Australian and Scandinavian companies for this underground development contract. The contract relates to the current mine which targets producing 2.6million tonnes per annum.

Peter McParland, Managing Director of QME, said:

“The contract is for an initial two-year period with an option to extend the contract further. There will be 5500 metres of development tunnelling carried out per annum and there will be up to 80/90 new jobs created,”

QME joined Geoscience Ireland in 2012 and has won considerable business in the UK market including Project Highlander at Glensanda Quarry, Oban, Scotland.

Koen Verbruggen, Director of Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI), commented:

“The Geological Survey welcomes the news of QME’s contract win. Their exceptional knowledge and experience at the Boliden Tara Mines development is a key benefit to the Irish mining and quarrying sector while the creation of 80+ jobs is most welcome for the locality.”