Atlas strengthens iron ore exports to 6mtpa rate
A new mine has given Atlas Iron the muscle to reach its iron ore export expansion target two months ahead of schedule.
An Atlas road train unloading at the port.
The Pilbara miner last month met its December target, an annualised rate of 6mt, when it shipped over 541,000 tonnes of ore through Port Hedland.
Its new Wodgina mine came on stream to add to output from the start-up Pardoo mine and bring the company's export rate from 1mtpa last year up to 6.49mtpa.
"Our team has yet again demonstrated the ability to start a new iron mine, get the ore to port and get it on to ships at the right specification, on budget and ahead of time," Atlas Iron managing director David Flanagan said.
"The Wodgina and Pardoo projects are ramping up very strongly and Atlas will have settled into a steady state of mining, processing and exports of 6mtpa by December."
He predicted Atlas would double its export capacity to 12mtpa by 2012.
The company is constructing the Turner River hub to blend and process ore from Atlass North Pilbara iron ore projects at Wodgina, Abydos and Mt Webber for transporting the 95 km to Port Hedland's new Utah Point port facility.
The hub will handle 10mtpa and Pardoo 2 mpta.
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