Sinosteel Midwest Corporation’s (SMC’s) Blue Hills hematite project which was deferred in October 2012 has now been put firmly back on the table. Operations are expected to commence in the second half of 2013.
“We are extremely pleased that the Value Improvement Study we conducted in late 2012 has been able to deliver significant improvement in our costs and has optimised our operational approach.”
“It’s important to note that we could not have achieved this without our major contract partners – MACA (mining and processing) and B&J Catalano (road haulage) – being fully engaged in this process,” said SMC’s General Manager Phil Allsopp. “They are true business partners.”
The Blue Hills Project is planned to produce approximately 1.4Mt per annum, with a mine life of approximately 3 years. SMC’s Blue Hills consists of two adjoining iron ore tenements at Mungada in the Perenjori Shire containing an estimated ore reserve of 4.3Mt. Ore will be mined, crushed and screened on site and hauled via a northern road route to the Port of Geraldton where SMC has existing storage and loading facilities.
“There will be a short hiatus in SMC’s mining operations after our Koolanooka mine closes at the end of March 2013. However, we are working hard to have Blue Hills up and running in the second half of the year,” said Phil.
“It’s definitely a good news story for our business.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
| Danielle Van Kampen | |
| SMC External Relations Manager | |
| M: 0409 104 613 | |
| E: dvankampen@sinosteelmidwest.com.au |