Sinosteel Midwest Corporation (SMC) is pleased to confirm that final ministerial environmental approval has been granted for the Weld Range project. “The Public Environment Review process which began in November 2007 is now complete, with the final conditional approval from the Minister for Environment, Hon Bill Marmion MLA received on the 29th August 2012.
“Although physical development work on the Weld Range project is still on hold, we are continuing to secure all the approvals to progress and the granting of the environmental approval is a key milestone in the overall process.
“We are also pleased to report that there were no appeals regarding the recommendation for approval from the EPA, which gives an indication not only of the hard work of the SMC team, but the great public support that the Weld Range project enjoys in the Mid West region,” said General Manager Phil Allsopp.
A start date for the project is still not decided.
“As with many of the Mid West project proponents we are reliant on a logistics solution centred around the Oakajee port to move 15 million tonnes per annum of iron ore to our customers in China.
“Our challenge is to weather the current economic conditions, focus our efforts on our smaller iron ore operations at Koolanooka, prepare for the transition of mining to Blue Hills, and work cooperatively within the region to ensure that Weld Range can eventually be a significant contributor to the Mid West iron ore industry.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
| Danielle Van Kampen | |
| SMC External Relations Manager | |
| M: 0409 104 613 | |
| E: dvankampen@sinosteelmidwest.com.au | |
TIMELINE OF WA STATE ENVIRONMENT APPROVAL
| DATE 19/11/07 06/09/10 18/10/10 18/05/12 13/06/12 18/06/12 02/07/12 29/08/12 |
DATE PROGESS Level of Assessment set at PER Proponent Document Released for Public Comment Public Comment Period Closed Final Proponent response to issues raised EPA report to the Minister for Environment Publication of EPA report Close of appeals period Environment Minister Approves |