WPG Resources sees extra role for new $50m Port Pirie facility
WPG Resources suggests its Hawks Nest mines in the Woomera Prohibited Area could be included in its plans to export iron ore through Port Pirie.
Iron ore from Peculiar Knob will be exported through Port Pirie.
The mineral resources company has lodged a development application to build a $50m iron ore receival, storage and loadout facility at the port as a state-sponsored infrastructure project.
The facility is intended to handle high grade direct shipping iron ore from Peculiar Knob, south of Coober Pedy.
Having lined up finance and customers, WPG said it will decide on production later this year, with construction finished in 2011.
The facility will be enclosed, similar to one at the port of Geraldton, to minimise noise and dust, and community comments have been taken into account in planning its operations.
WPG said it will source 3mtpa of ore from Peculiar Knob and will let other miners use the facility, which will have a 7mtpa capacity.
Peculiar Knob has a possible six-year life. The interim Hawke review of Woomera area mining sugests WPG's Buzzard and Tui deposits at Hawks Nest could be developed within proposed new guidelines, which would extend the life of a combined DSO project to more than 10 years.
WPG plans to transport the iron ore 100 km by road train to the Darwin-Adelaide Railway, by rail the 700 km to the Port Pirie depot and by barge from Berth 7 to capesize vessels in deep water.
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