PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian government in December launched a relief package for junior iron-ore miners, in an effort to battle the falling commodity prices.

The state government said it would make temporary assistance available to junior iron-ore miners on a case-by-case basis as they restructure operations in challenging market conditions.

Premier and State Development Minister Colin Barnett and Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion said the assistance would be in the form of a 50% rebate on eligible haematite iron-ore royalties for up to 12 months, subject to the iron-ore price remaining below an average of A$90/t over the period.

“This is a responsible and carefully considered move and comes on the back of a 48% fall in iron-ore prices since January 2014,” Barnett said at the time.

“The iron-ore industry plays a hugely important role in the Western Australian economy, accounting for 56% of the state’s exports and employing more than 61 000 people in 2013/14.”

At the conclusion of the assistance period, the rebates would be fully repayable over a period of up to two years, with repayments to be made in accordance with a schedule to be negotiated between the producer and the Minister for Mines and Petroleum.

“This is not a handout, this is a deferral and is a good outcome for Western Australia,” Marmion said.

“These junior producers extract the resources the big companies often won’t mine. They use local contractors and local businesses and overall this means additional jobs and royalties.”

Each request will be assessed by the Department of Mines and Petroleum on a case-by-case basis, through an extensive economic analysis overseen by an independent probity auditor.

The department would then make recommendations to the Minister regarding eligibility for assistance.

The declining iron-ore price has seen several producers in Western Australia cut back on costs, with numerous miners reducing staff numbers and exploration expenditure.