On January 18, Australian integrated iron ore miner Grange Resources Limited (Grange) announced that the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (WAEPA) has recommended that the expansion project for Albany Port receive environmental approval.
Grange says that this constitutes another significant milestone for the company and for its Southdown project near Albany in Western Australia. The expansion project for Albany Port will allow the port to cater for capesize vessels, supporting the proposed export of iron ore concentrate from Grange's Southdown iron ore mine.
According to the company announcement, the use of the larger capesize vessels will contribute to shipping and operational efficiencies, as well as reducing by two thirds the shipping movements required in Albany harbour compared to the current smaller vessels.
The published WAEPA bulletin will now be considered by West Australia's minister for the environment for the final ministerial approval process.
With environmental approval already in place for the mine site and pipeline to Albany, together with the power transmission line to the Southdown mine site, and for the Malaysian iron ore pellet plant site, ministerial approval of the port expansion will be the last major approval necessary for this large project to proceed.
"After an enormous amount of work and scientific study, we are delighted the project has now reached this important development stage, which is a major step forward in bringing Southdown into commercial operation," Grange managing director Russell Clark stated.