JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) − Junior miner Burk Mining is set to become the first black economic-empowered (BEE) miner to enter the seaborne iron-ore market, after agreeing a deal with Kumba Iron Ore to gain access to the export channel.

Iron-ore from Burk Mining’s mine in the Northern Cape will be loaded onto the railway line to Saldanha, using excess capacity at the Sishen mine, JSE-listed Kumba said in a statement.

The junior miner, which does not have access to the export channel because of the high cost of establishing blending and load out facilities, will deliver 500 000 t of iron-ore to the Sishen mine for screening, blending and loading.

State-owned Transnet is in the process of finalising a rail and port allocation for this short-term agreement for the transport of the iron-ore to the port, it added.

CEO Chris Griffith said that allowing BEE companies access to the export channel was essential in opening up the mining sector to new entrants.

Kumba would also be assisting the company with technical expertise in mining and beneficiation.

To subscribe to Mining Weekly's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.