Name and Location
Orebody 31 iron-ore mine project, Australia.

Client
BHP Billiton.

Project Description
The project involves the development and operation of a new mine below the water table at Orebody 31, in Pilbara. The project has been identified as the preferred option to replace ore sources from the Orebody 18 deposit, which are expected to be depleted by 2019.

Orebody 31’s ore resource has been estimated at 500-million tonnes.

The project will use the existing Orebody 18 hub mine ore-handling facilities, including the primary crusher, stockpiles and train load-out facilities.

This approach reflects BHP Billiton Iron Ore’s current approach to develop new orebodies that can use existing infrastructure around established mining hubs.

This approach will also minimise the amount of clearing required for developing of the new deposit.

The orebody will be mined at a rate of between 15-million tonnes a year and 30-million tonnes a year, as determined by the business plan and market conditions.

Conventional openpit iron-ore mining activities will be used below the water table and will require mine dewatering ahead of mining to facilitate dry mining conditions.

The proposed mine will require the dewatering of up to 16.2 Gℓ/y to allow for dry mining conditions, and require the clearing of up to 2 500 ha of native vegetation within a development envelope of 4 075 ha.

The project includes the construction of an overland heavy-vehicle haul road and an overland conveyor, as well as associated mine infrastructure including an overburden storage area, offices, workshops, roads, dewatering infrastructure, ore and topsoil stockpiles and associated facilities.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has approved BHP Billiton’s Orebody 31 iron-ore mine.

EPA chairperson Dr Paul Vogel has said the mine proposal will meet the EPA’s environmental objectives, subject to conditions.

The EPA has noted BHP Billiton’s efforts to avoid, minimise and rehabilitate predicted environmental impacts, including efforts to change the development envelope boundary and re-engineer the location of storage facilities to avoid a Priority 1 flora species. The agency has further recommended several measures to protect the species, including the use of protective buffer zones, a regional survey, monitoring of the species and, if required, the development and implementation of a dedicated conservation and research plan.

Further conditions set by the EPA pertain to the discharge of water, the monitoring of water quality to manage potential impacts from salinity, and the ecologically sustainable decommissioning of the mine.

Once the public appeal process has been completed, the Minister will take a final decision on the development of the mine.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
BHP Billiton, tel +61 3 9609 3333.