Resources and Energy Minister Gary Gray today welcomed the Commonwealth environmental approval of the Anketell Point Iron Ore Processing and Export Port project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
Minister Gray said that this new project would help secure Australia’s position as the world’s largest exporter of iron ore and allow a range of small to mid-range companies to access export infrastructure for the first time.
“This is the next major iron ore port for the Pilbara which will bring great benefits to the local community and the national economy,” Mr Gray said.
“The port will have the initial capacity to support 115 million tonnes of exports per annum, expandable to 350mtpa in the future, and create around 5000 new jobs for the region.
“One of the great benefits of this project is the multi-user facilities and the development of an industrial corridor to support a range of different users and different commodities. This provides new export opportunities for smaller companies and the possibility of exporting minerals other than iron ore.
“Development of export infrastructure like this has a direct impact on the productivity of the iron ore industry and ultimately the national economy” he said.
The project will see the construction of a deep-water shipping channel to allow capsized vessels to depart fully loaded, a three kilometre approach jetty causeway, a 1.1 kilometre jetty and associated shore based infrastructure – including stockyards, a desalination plant, conveyors, accommodation camps, power plant and road and rail links.
Add Comment