SSH Group Named Preferred Contractor for Cavalier Crawford Stage 1 Gold Mining
Cavalier taps SSH as preferred mining contractor for Crawford Stage 1 gold project
Cavalier Resources (ASX: CVR) has selected SSH Group Ltd (ASX: SSH) as its preferred mining services contractor for Stage 1 of the Crawford Gold Project, located approximately 20km east of Leonora, Western Australia. The parties have entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) — not a binding contract — and intend to negotiate a binding Heads of Agreement (HOA), followed by a Mining Services Agreement (MSA). The proposed scope covers mining services for the Stage 1 oxide pit and is expected to span approximately 12 months of active mining operations. This is another step toward getting Crawford Stage 1 into production, as the company assembles the contracts, equipment, and approvals required to commence mining.
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What the proposed SSH mining services arrangement covers
The proposed scope encompasses the mining services required for the Stage 1 oxide pit, as outlined in Cavalier’s revised Pre-Feasibility Study announced on 15 April 2026. Ore will be processed through the Project’s planned on-site heap leach circuit. Final commercial terms remain subject to several outstanding conditions before a binding agreement is executed. No contract value or pricing has been disclosed.
The conditions still outstanding before terms are finalised include:
- Due diligence completion
- Final pricing and benchmarking
- Stage 1 funding
- Execution of definitive agreements
SSH provides contract mining, civil, plant hire, and workforce services to the Australian resources industry, giving it the experience Cavalier requires for Stage 1 operations.
Daniel Tuffin, Executive Technical Director
“Selecting SSH as our preferred mining contractor is another important step towards getting the Crawford Stage 1 pit into production. Site preparation is underway and our focus is firmly on execution; putting the people, equipment and contracts in place to commence mining. SSH has the capability and experience we need for Stage 1 and has worked closely with our team to develop a practical approach for mining at the Crawford operation. With site works underway and our preferred mining contractor now selected, we continue to put the key pieces in place to commence mining at Crawford.”
Understanding heap leach and oxide pit mining — why it matters here
An oxide pit targets near-surface, weathered ore that has been chemically altered by groundwater and weathering processes. This type of ore is typically lower-cost to mine because it sits close to the surface and requires less complex extraction methods. Heap leach processing involves stacking crushed ore on a prepared pad and applying a leach solution (typically cyanide) to dissolve and recover the gold. The gold-bearing solution is then collected and processed to extract the metal. This method generally requires lower upfront capital than conventional milling and can accelerate the path to first production and cash flow. For investors, this matters because Cavalier’s staged development approach aims to reduce capital requirements and bring the project into production sooner, rather than funding a larger, higher-risk operation from day one.
Crawford development progressing on multiple fronts
Cavalier is advancing several parallel workstreams alongside the contractor selection. Site preparation, access, and regulatory activities continue to progress, with key workstreams nearing completion.
The current development workstreams include:
- MDCP and road intersection approvals nearing completion
- Commencement of carbon services planning
- Progression of Perth Mint refinement arrangements
- Ongoing site preparation and access works
On financing, Cavalier continues to progress the previously announced Stage 1 project financing arrangements with Javelin Global Commodities. The parties have agreed to extend the conditions period by up to 30 days to finalise remaining documentation. This is an extension to complete the financing process, not a setback — simply more time to get the documentation right before moving forward.
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What this means for the path to production
Cavalier is now assembling the key components required to commence mining at Crawford: a preferred contractor is selected, site works are underway, regulatory approvals are nearing completion, and project financing is progressing toward finalisation. The company has moved from planning into execution mode. For investors, the near-term catalysts to watch include the conversion of the LOI into binding agreements with SSH, finalisation of the Javelin financing conditions, and completion of the remaining regulatory approvals.
| Workstream | Current Status | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Mining contractor | Preferred contractor (SSH) selected via LOI | Negotiate binding HOA & MSA |
| Stage 1 financing | In progress with Javelin Global Commodities | Conditions period extended up to 30 days |
| Regulatory approvals | MDCP & road intersection nearing completion | Finalise remaining approvals |
| Gold refining | Perth Mint arrangements progressing | Finalise refinement arrangements |
With the preferred contractor now in place and site works underway, Cavalier continues to put the key pieces in place to commence mining at Crawford. The company has not disclosed a specific first-production date, but the Stage 1 mining operations are expected to span approximately 12 months once active mining begins. The near-term focus is on converting the LOI into binding agreements, finalising project financing, and completing the remaining regulatory approvals required to move into production.
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