Name of the Project
Mardie salt and potash project.

Location
The project is located on the Pilbara coast of Western Australia.

Project Owner/s
BCI Minerals.

Project Description
A definitive feasibility study (DFS) has confirmed that the project could become a globally significant Tier 1 project.

At Mardie, an inexhaustible seawater resource will be concentrated through solar and wind evaporation to sustainably produce 4.4-million tonnes a year of high-purity sodium chloride salt and 120 000 t/y of sulphate of potash (SoP) to supply the growing chemical and agricultural industries in Asia over an operating life of at least 60 years.

The project includes nine evaporation ponds, 34 crystallisers and 18 SoP crystallisers, a salt plant and an SoP plant.

BCI will also consider the relocation of crystallisers to the recently acquired tenements north of Mardie, which will allow for increased production and lower operating costs.

The new tenements also offer a sufficient area for additional evaporation ponds, which could increase production capacity to six-million tonnes a year of salt and 160 000 t/y of SoP production, making Mardie one of the largest solar evaporation operations globally.

Potential Job Creation
During construction, 470 jobs are expected to be created, while an estimated 190 jobs are expected to be created during operations.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has an estimated ungeared net present value, at a 7% discount rate, of A$1.2-billion and an internal rate of return of 15.3%.

Capital Expenditure
Capital costs are estimated at A$779-million.

Planned Start/End Date
The development schedule is targeting a final investment decision in the first quarter of 2021, with construction expected to start in the second quarter of 2021.

First salt sales are expected by mid-2024, and first SoP sales by mid-2025.

Latest Developments
The federal government has confirmed that the Mardie salt and potash project has been approved for a A$450-million loan facility from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.

The project was granted Major Project status by the Australian government in August 2020.

Resources, Water and Northern Australia Minister Keith Pitt has said the project will create hundreds of jobs and boost economic growth in the Pilbara.

Pitt has said the project was awarded major project status in recognition of its significance to the economy, helping to steer the project through regulatory approvals. NAIF and the project proponents will now work on final contractual arrangements for the loan.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
The DFS was managed by BCI, with support from GR Engineering Services (DFS lead engineer), and additional support from Worley, CMW Geosciences, Preston Consulting, RPS, Roskill, Argus Consulting, Braemar ACM Shipbroking and KPMG, besides others.

Contact Details for Project Information
BCI Minerals, tel +61 8 6311 3400 or email info@bciminerals.com.au.