30 November 2004
Major Boost For Railway and Port With Bootu Creek to Export 600,000 Tonnes a Year
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Clare Martin MLA
Chief Minister
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The Adelaide to Darwin railway and East Arm Port have been given a major boost with the announcement that 600,000 tonnes of freight will be exported annually from a new Manganese mine at Bootu Creek when it formally opens on 10 th December, 2004.
Since beginning operations in January the train has carried around 450,000 tonnes of freight.
Chief Minister, Clare Martin, said that by exporting 600,000 tonnes a year to China and South East Asia , Bootu Creek will be generating more than 80 jobs at the mine and on the haulage of bulk ore by rail to Darwin Port.
Bootu Creek is expected to generate $70 million a year in export earnings for the Territory.
“The mine will produce about 1,700 tonnes a day, which will see an additional 3-4 trains per week and an additional 1-2 bulk carrier ship calling at East Arm Port every month,” she said.
“Contracts have already been finalised for a 58 kilometre haul road - to the rail siding near Tennant Creek - and for construction of mine site accommodation for about 80 workers.
“Also, Bootu Creek Resources Pty Ltd is in final negotiations with a preferred tenderer for mining and processing operations.
“This will be a major new mine for the Territory and worth $30 million in capital expenditure in its construction phase, plus the on-going operational costs.”
Ms Martin said the Territory Government’s commitment of more than $11 million to expanding bulk-handling facilities at East Arm Port will be crucial to this operation.
Bootu Creek is expected to have commenced operations and export by the third quarter of next year.
“A growing portfolio of mineral developments in the Territory and South Australia will be taking advantage of the bulk-handling facilities at East Arm Port ,” she said.
“Operations such as Bootu Creek near Tennant Creek and the proposed garnet sands mine at Harts Range are poised to start exporting as soon as the port infrastructure is in place.”
Government will soon appoint a project management consultant to oversee development and construction of the bulk-handling facilities. The facilities are expected to include rail, road, dump stations and a travelling gantry ship loader at the port.
The facilities are likely to include rail, and road, dump stations and a travelling gantry ship loader at the port.
Bootu Creek Resources Pty Ltd is a joint venture between Singapore-based OM Holdings (OMH) and Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO).
Traditional owners will hold a special ceremony to welcome the mine to their land on the 10 th December at Banka Banka Station.
Several significant milestones have already been achieved on the project, including procurement of native title agreement and completion of a public environmental report.