PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Mining major Glencore has secured long-term exports from the Port of Townsville, following the commissioning of the A$85-million Berth 8 facility.

Jointly funded by the Port of Townsville, Glencore and Incitec Pivot, the Berth 8 facility delivered two- and-a-half times more shiploading capacity, greater berth efficiency and environmental performance improvements.

Berth 8 replaces older facilities at Berth 7, which were constructed in 1913.

Glencore port manager Greg O’Shea said the facility was a critical part of the group’s integrated supply chain, which provides jobs for more than 6 100 people across North Queensland.

“Our operations at the Port of Townsville provide the export gateway for a number of Glencore and third-party products. We explore, mine, process, transport, store and export copper and zinc/lead/silver commodities from our operations across Queensland to the rest of the world.”

O’Shea pointed out that in 2014, Glencore loaded about 1.75-million tonnes of product for export, including its own and third-party products destined for export markets such as Europe, Asia and North America.

Glencore’s operations at the Port of Townsville include fully enclosed facilities – such as covered train wagons, fully sealed storage sheds, and enclosed conveyor systems.

At a state level, Glencore’s port operations are part of an integrated network of assets across the copper and zinc businesses, which together contributed more than A$4-billion to the Queensland economy in 2014.

Queensland treasurer, Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Straits Island Partnerships, Curtis Pitt, said on Wednesday that the new facility was an important piece of infrastructure that would bring widespread economic benefits to North Queensland.

“It’s another sign that Queensland is open for business and of the state government’s willingness to engage with industry to drive economic growth.”

Ports Minister Mark Bailey added that the Berth 8 upgrade and demolition of Berth 6/7 allowed for access of larger ships, creating capacity for future growth.

“It means more ships through the port, with the new berth capable of handling two-and-a-half more times the shiploading capacity,” he said.

“We’re committed to maintaining and investing in Queensland’s publicly owned ports and this is yet another example of that in action.”