Upcoming producer GWR Group has secured access to a port storage facility in Geraldton to export iron ore from its Wiluna West operations.
Upcoming producer GWR Group has secured access to a port storage facility in Geraldton to export iron ore from its Wiluna West operations.
The group has signed an agreement with Mid West Ports Authority (MWPA), the operator of the Port of Geraldton, to export hematite ore from GWR’s high-grade C4 deposit as part of the company’s much larger Wiluna West project.
Chairman Gary Lyons said the port access agreement enabled GWR to take advantage of a buoyant iron ore price.
It comes about two months after GWR signed a term sheet with contractor Pilbara Resource Group, which is undertaking all aspects of stage one of the C4 operation, starting with construction of a haul and road and other infrastructure.
The port and services agreement signed with MWPA ensures priority access to Site 88, which includes a truck unloading facility, a 100,000-tonne storage shed and associated conveyer works.
GWR will have port access by December 1, in time for first shipment expected mid-January.
Mining and production operations will begin early next month, with Perth-based Dynamic Drill & Blast recently subcontracted for works on the project.
Stage one will deliver 1 million tonnes of ore from the 21.6mt C4 deposit, which has an average grade of 60 per cent iron.
GWR was trading 9 per cent higher at 1:25pm AEDT to 18 cents.
