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Australian miner BHP Billiton has gained environmental approval from the Australian federal government for the company's outer harbor expansion at Port Hedland which is one of Australia's largest ports, according to media reports.
 
With the latest federal approval, BHP Billiton has cleared the final environmental hurdle for the $10 billion project to add an export capacity of 240 million mt per year. The outer harbor, including rail and stockpile facilities, a 32 kilometer shipping channel and a four kilometer jetty offshore of Finucane Island, will be built in four stages in eight years.
 
It is not decided yet when the project will be launched since BHP has determined to cut down spending due to the current global uncertainty. The investment in the overall expansion project will allow BHP to double its annual iron ore output.