More than a year ago in July 2019 a time extension to the...

More than a year ago in July 2019 a time extension to the Mineral Resources farm-in at Brockman’s Marillana was given..

News on what happened after is a bit sparse with a feasibility report due at the end of last month not yet announced.
However - possibly counting for some interest in Brockman of late is a note in the September Quarterly update from the office of the Chief Economist which counts  Marillana as a “significant “ new supply source after 2021:
[Resource and Energy Quarterly September 2020] page 36;

.... “Australian iron ore miners continue to invest in new supply sources. ​

New output is expected from significant projects in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, including BHP’s South Flank project (from 2021), Fortescue’s Eliwana project (from 2021), and Brockman’s Marillana mine (after 2021). ​

This will expand on existing capacity and substitute for falling output from some existing mines in the region, which are approaching depletion....”​

Here’s a story on last year’s delay;
Mineral Resources, Brockman delay Marillana rail and port project


Image: Mineral Resources

• [email protected]
• More by Staff Writer

July 23, 2019
Joint venture mining partners Mineral Resources and Brockman Mining have extended their delivery deadlines for the Marillana mine-to-port rail system in Western Australia.

The light rail line forms part of the wider $300 million Marillana iron ore project, and is intended to transport ore roughly 270 kilometres from the mine site to a capsize carrier berth located at Port Hedland.

Mineral Resources and Brockman have agreed to extend the completion date of their farm-in period by up to 12 months to July 31 2020, resulting in a delay to the construction and operation deadlines for the rail and port system.
Mineral Resources, through subsidiary Polaris, is responsible for the overall construction and operation of the Marillana rail and port system.

Construction of the line is now expected to begin on or before December 31 2020, with operations to be scheduled on or before December 31 2022.

The delay is due to Mineral Resources’ ongoing negotiations related to its mine to ship agreement (MSA). The company is still procuring licences and leases for the system, including approval from the WA State Government and company board as the project moves towards its final investment decision.

Brockman will still retain a right to acquire the whole of Mineral Resources’ interest in the joint venture if the revised target dates are not met.
Brockman stated that the timetable on the project had been adjusted “to reflect modifications in the design and an extended testing period to ensure a workable system with sufficient capacity”.



In the BCK Annual Report [ref] 16/09/20 BCK chairman, Kwai Sze Hoi wrote the end of September 2020 was a key date;

.. “During this reported fiscal year, all the activities in Marillana are related to the Farm-in Obligations under the Farm-in Joint Venture (FJV) Agreement that was entered between Brockman Iron Pty Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company) and Polaris Metals Pty Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Mineral Resources Limited (MRL)) in July 2018.​

For Polaris Metals Pty Ltd (Polaris) and MRL to complete its Farm-in Obligations under the FJV, a drilling campaign and metallurgical test works were conducted and the results will be the foundation for an economic feasibility study, which is the basis for a Final Investment Decision (FID) to be made. ​

​

The completion of such feasibility report is expected by end September 2020.​

The Company has been working closely with Polaris and MRL for all the activities in assessing Marillana. ​

As at 30th June 2020 more than A$3 million has been spent on the Farm-in Obligations in relation to Marillana.​

In accordance with the FJV, the parties also entered into a Mine to Ship Services Agreement, under which an infrastructure solution for Marillana shall be provided (constructed and funded) by MRL. ​

Such infrastructure solution shall be critical to the success of Marillana. ​

I can assure you that we shall exhaust all efforts in achieving our goal in bringing Marillana into production. ​

At the current stage such production commencement time line is by the second half of calendar year 2022...”​

cheers