BHP Billiton has approved the Rapid Growth Project 4 (RGP4) which will increase system capacity across its Western Australian iron ore operations to 155 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa). Initial production is expected to commence in the first half of CY2010.
BHP Billiton has approved capital expenditure of US$1.85 billion for its share of the project, which includes development of a new crushing and screening plant, as well as additional stockyards, car dumping and train loading facilities at Mt Whaleback. Infrastructure upgrades will also be implemented at satellite orebodies and the rail and port operations. BHP Billiton’s partners in the Pilbara iron ore operations are: Itochu Minerals & Energy of Australia, Mitsui-Itochu Iron and Mitsui Iron Ore Corporation.
Key elements of RGP4 include:
- Mines
- Construction of crushing and screening facilities at Mt Whaleback
- Construction of a new car dumper at Mt Whaleback
- Construction of a new ore processing plant at Jimblebar
- Ore handling plant upgrades at Yandi
- Port
- Car dumper upgrade at Nelson Point
- Construction of a second stockpile row in the East Yard at Finucane Island
- Construction of new offices, warehouse and workshops at Finucane Island
- General infrastructure upgrades to reduce dust emissions
- Rail
- Additional locomotives
- Additional ore wagons
- Additional mainline sidings
Fortescue (Cape Preston) Mine and Pellet Plant mining and mineral processing 2000 Dec-07 Dec-10 North West Mineralogy/International Minerals (Wu han Iron & Steel Group Corporation)
Pilbara Iron Ore and Infrastructure Project Fortescue Metals Group Limited will construct rail and port facilities to support the development and sale of the Pilbara’s stranded iron ore bodies. Its philosophy is an open third party access regime for other mining users as espoused by the Government. The rail and port assets will be owned by The Pilbara Infrastructure Pty Ltd (TPI) – currently a wholly – owned subsidiary of FMG. TPI includes the mine ore handling facility, railway from Cloud Break to Port Hedland and a port facility at Port Hedland. The key infrastructure parameters include:
-255 kms of railway from Cloud Break to Port Hedland
-4 train sets each comprising 2 locomotives and 200 wagons
-2 berths, a live berth and a lay-by berth designed to handle ships up to 250,000 DWT
-12,500 tph shiploader
-2.4 million tones live stockpile area.
WorleyParson has been appointed the EPCM contractor. The following contractors have been selected for the works:
- Jan de Nul NV for the dredging of the port area at Anderson Point.
- The vessel CSD “Leonardo da Vinci” has been scheduled for the work.
- Metso Minerals (Australia) Pty Ltd for the design, manufacture and commissioning of the train unloader at Anderson Point.
- FFE Minerals for the design, manufacture, installation and commissioning of Excel 1100 crushers at the Cloud Break mine site.
- BGC Contracting for earthworks and culvert construction along the entire 255km route of the rail line.
The capital cost for the project is estimated at A$1.95 billion. Fortescure is targeting to have the first ore shipped in late 2007.
Jangardup South Mineral Sands Mine mining and mineral processing 40 Jun-10 Jun-12 North West Cable Sands’
Yalgoo Project mining and mineral processing 388.5 Jul-09 Jan-11 Mid West Ferrowest
Kalgoorlie Nickel Project mining and mineral processing 1400 Jul-11 Jul-13
- Goldfields
- Esperance
- Heron Resources
The Perth Seawater Desalination Project comprises the design, construction and operation of a 45 gigalitre per year desalination plant to be located in Kwinana, 25km south of Perth, Western Australia. The project scope includes seawater intake, pretreatment, reverse osmosis desalination, drinking water potabilisation and pumping station. Multiplex is responsible jointly with Degremont for the design and construction of the $387 million plant.
The Project is executed in an Alliance Arrangement with the Water Corporation in two phases covered by separate Design/Construct and Operation/Maintenance contracts. The plant is scheduled for completion by end of April 2007, with potable water supplies being progressively delivered following commissioning in October 2006.
