Name of the Project
Central Eyre iron project (CEIP).

Location
Australia.

Client
Iron Road.

Project Description
A Class 3 mine optimisation programme has validated, improved and further derisked the 2014 definitive feasibility study findings on the CEIP.

Iron Road has been focused on advancing the CEIP, which includes a proposed long-life mine and processing plant, as well as regionally supportive rail and port infrastructure.

The mine has been designed for in-pit crushing and conveying, with fully mobile and semimobile crushers, as the characteristics and size of the orebody are ideally suited to this mining method.

Mobile in-pit crushers will be connected to the main pit conveying system by smaller dedicated fully mobile conveyors. Each component is relocatable using transport crawlers, allowing for components to be easily moved during pit advance.

The optimisation programme proposes the construction of a modularised ore-processing facility on the south-east perimeter of the proposed pit.

The facility has three discreet processing trains to provide a high level of plant availability and minimise operational downtime.

The t processing trains will incorporate seven main modules – a semiautogenous grinding mill, a rougher magnetic separator, a gravity beneficiation circuit, a regrind mill, a ball mill, a cleaner magnetic separator and a tailings filter building.

The facility will process up to 175-million tonnes (dry) a year of feed material at an overall average head grade of about 16% iron, producing 24-million tonnes a year of iron concentrate (dry basis) at an estimated 67% iron.

Dewatered coarse tailings from each process train will be discharged onto the tailings transfer conveyor. The filtered moist fine tailings will be transferred to the waste rock conveyor originating from the mine. The combined tailings and waste rock will be stacked on the integrated waste landform by a mobile spreader. This method minimises water use and reduces the waste storage footprint.

Iron concentrate will be transported from the mine site by a standard gauge, heavy haul rail system along the infrastructure corridor to a new port facility at Cape Hardy. The bulk commodities port facilities are located at Cape Hardy, 7 km south-west of Port Neill. The port is planned to have an initial capacity of 70-million tonnes, with the main export wharf capable of handling Panamax and Capesize vessels. Two shipping berths for bulk iron-ore carriers will be serviced by a slewing, luffing and travelling shiploader.

Jobs to be Created
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Value
Iron Road lowered the project’s capital expenditure by $600-million to $3.4-billion in April 2016.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The Australian government has renewed the major project facilitation (MPF) service for Iron Road’s CEIP.

The renewal of the MPF follows Iron Road’s and development partner China Railway Group’s recent acceleration of the joint project commercialisation programme.

In September, the CEIP infrastructure was declared a priority project by the Australian government.

MD Andrew Stock has said that the continued recognition and support of the Australian government for the project is highly valued.

“The Australian government offers strong support for projects of strategic significance for Australia, such as the CEIP, and we are very pleased to receive confirmation of the MPF renewal.”

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Iron Road, tel +61 8 8214 4400, +61 8 8214 4440 or email admin@ironroadlimited.com.au.