PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Iron-ore major Fortescue Metals has received approval to increase its materials handling capacity at its Herb Elliot port facility from 175-million tonnes a year to 210-million tonnes a year, on a staged basis.
The company said on Friday that the revised licence uses the capacity at Fortescue’s existing port infrastructure, comprising five berths and three ship loaders, and supports the company’s 2021 iron-ore shipment guidance of between 175-million and 180-million tonnes.
The increased shipment capacity includes provisions for 188-million tonnes a year of hematite ore and 22-million tonnes a year of magnetite concentrate, which will be produced at the Iron Bridge operation, with first magnetite ore scheduled for shipment in mid-2022.
“Fortescue’s port operations are world leading and we have continually demonstrated our capacity to optimise the efficiency and productivity of our port infrastructure to deliver iron-ore to our customers,” said CEO Elizabeth Gaines.
“The increase in the licensed capacity of Fortescue's Herb Elliott port from 175-million to 210-million tonnes a year is in line with our strategy to deliver growth through investment, including the $2.6-billion investment in the Iron Bridge project. This significant project will deliver 22-million tonnes a year of high-grade magnetite product, enhancing the range of products available to our customers through our flexible integrated operations and marketing strategy,” Gaines said.
“We will continue to ensure that Fortescue remains a significant long-term contributor to the state and national economies through growth and development of our iron-ore assets, job creation and investment.”