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Port gets call for
major expansion
Esperance Port is to be expanded to increase its export capacity by up to 20 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).
Minister for Transport, Troy Buswell said a market sounding exercise would be launched to identify private sector interest in expanding the port’s capacity for iron ore exports.
Mr Buswell said significant work had been undertaken to explore options to expand port capacity at both Esperance and Kwinana and the decision was influenced by a recently completed study into the Yilgarn province’s burgeoning iron ore industry and the fact that $120 million was being spent to upgrade the port’s road and rail access.
| Big plans unveiled for Esperance |
“The study showed 11 of the 12 miners preferred Esperance over Kwinana in relation to their individual export needs,” Mr Buswell said.
“The Yilgarn province is a rapidly developing iron ore region and, based on current iron ore prices, has the potential to earn the State up to $150 million a year in royalties which can be invested into schools, hospitals, roads, police and other essential services for the community.”
He said currently about 12 million tonnes of iron ore came out of the Yilgarn and it was a potential source of more than 15 billion tonnes of magnetite and one billion tonnes of high-grade haematite ore.
“This is a very exciting time for Esperance, however we need to act fast if Western Australia is to reap the reward of current high iron ore prices,” Mr Buswell said.
“Esperance Ports Sea and Land has a strong management team and the skills and capacity to proceed with a major project like this.”
He said engaging the private sector would minimise costs and risks to the Government.
Edition 121, 24 January 2012
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