Summary:MLG secures a $40m mining services contract at Pioneer Dome lithium project in WA, delivering full open-pit drill, blast and crushing work to hit 2026 DSO lithium shipments....

Figure 1 – Eastern Goldfields lithium corridor layout of Pioneer Dome deposit, annotated tenement boundary & spodumene pegmatite mineralised zones

MLG Oz Limited (ASX: MLG) has secured a key $40 million mining services contract to deliver core site operations at Develop Global’s (ASX:DVP) flagship Pioneer Dome Lithium Project, a spodumene-bearing hard rock lithium asset located 130km south of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields lithium belt. Awarded after a competitive tender process, this major Pioneer Dome lithium contract covers full open-pit operational workflows and on-site crushing infrastructure operation, marking a critical pre-production milestone for the DSO (Direct Shipping Ore) lithium mine. The 12-month fixed-term agreement underpins the project’s timeline to commence ore mining in Q3 2026 and deliver first lithium concentrate shipments to global battery supply chains by the December 2026 quarter, backed by a binding 750,000-tonne DSO offtake deal with Trafigura. Drawing on MLG’s proven track record delivering lithium mine services at Bald Hill and other WA hard rock projects, the contract eliminates key construction and execution risks for Develop’s capital-light lithium development strategy.

Pioneer Dome $40m MLG Contract Core Operational Parameters

Pioneer Dome hosts a JORC-compliant mineral resource of 11.2Mt at 1.16% Li₂O, sourced from multiple high-grade spodumene pegmatite lodes across the 389km² tenement package. The tendered contract covers all frontline surface mining activities required to extract and process run-of-mine lithium ore for export-grade DSO product.

Table 1: MLG $40m Pioneer Dome Lithium Contract Key Specifications

[Table Placeholder: Table 1 – MLG mining service contract metrics for Pioneer Dome lithium operation]

MLG will mobilise its owned mobile crushing fleet, heavy haulage trucks and drill rigs to site starting mid-July 2026, supported by a dedicated local workforce trained in hard rock pegmatite mining and low-dilution ore extraction. All crushing flows are optimised to produce consistent 1.2–1.3% Li₂O DSO feedstock matching Trafigura’s offtake quality standards, minimising waste rock contamination and boosting overall lithium recovery on-site.

Core Operational Advantages of MLG’s Contract Appointment

The award of the $40m Pioneer Dome lithium contract addresses multiple critical operational challenges for Develop Global’s DSO-focused mine build:

1. Regional Execution Capability: Headquartered in Kalgoorlie, MLG avoids costly long-distance equipment transport and third-party labour subcontracting, cutting project overheads and shortening mobilisation timelines.

2. Specialised Lithium Processing Experience: MLG’s prior Bald Hill work delivers proven expertise in spodumene crushing, fragmentation control and DSO product grading, a key factor in the tender evaluation process.

3. Capital-Light Development Alignment: Outsourcing full mining and crushing services removes the need for Develop to purchase large capital-intensive mobile fleets, preserving working capital for site administration, environmental compliance and export logistics.

4. Simplified Project Risk Management: The fixed-price $40m contract locks in core operating expenditure for the first production year, enabling accurate cash flow forecasting ahead of lithium concentrate export revenue.

Geologically, Pioneer Dome’s flat terrain and sealed Goldfields Highway access further support MLG’s efficient fleet circulation, reducing haul cycle times between open pit and crushing station compared to remote WA lithium projects.

Global Battery Metal Market Strategic Significance

Against sustained long-term lithium demand driven by EV manufacturing and grid energy storage, Western Australia’s new hard rock DSO mines are vital to balance global supply deficits. This Pioneer Dome lithium contract validates mid-tier lithium developers’ contractor-led mine development model, which accelerates project commissioning compared to fully owner-operated builds.

For MLG, the $40m mandate expands its battery metals service portfolio beyond traditional gold mining, diversifying revenue streams amid growing investment in Australian lithium pegmatite deposits. Institutional investors and lithium offtake partners view the contract award as concrete proof Pioneer Dome is fully de-risked to hit its Q4 2026 export target, strengthening market confidence in Develop Global’s lithium asset pipeline. Industry analysts note the project’s low-strip-ratio open pit design and existing export road infrastructure position it as a low-cost lithium supply source for Asian and European battery manufacturers.

Conclusion

Figure 2 – Typical MLG mining equipment to be deployed for Pioneer Dome lithium DSO production]

MLG’s $40 million mining services contract win at the Pioneer Dome Lithium Project delivers a definitive operational roadmap to launch commercial DSO lithium production in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields. Covering a full 12-month suite of drill-blast, haulage and crushing operations, the agreement leverages MLG’s local Kalgoorlie infrastructure and lithium project expertise to eliminate execution delays and stabilise production costs. With binding offtake secured and all regulatory approvals complete, this contract milestone brings Pioneer Dome one major step closer to supplying high-grade spodumene feedstock to the global energy transition supply chain by late 2026. Mining stakeholders will monitor site mobilisation progress and early ore grade results as MLG commences field operations this quarter.