update, page-3

Article from miningnews...

Outgoing Geraldton Port Authority chief executive Keith Gordon applauded the formation of the alliance and said China's insatiable appetite for iron ore had driven growth in the mid-west region over the past 12 months.

"There's been projects in the region for a long time but [they] haven't been able to attract the interest of the market," he said. "I think we've got a one life shot at this … [and the] players face enormous success if they get it right."

"As a port authority, we will help to get the infrastructure in place."

On the infrastructure front, Alliance members Gindalbie, Midwest and Mt Gibson in conjunction with WestNet Rail and the WA Department of Planning and Infrastructure launched an independent transport study, to be carried out by Strategic Design + Development.

The objective of the three-month study, which is expected to cost more than $A100,000, is to develop a clear and comprehensive approach to managing the rapidly emerging land transport requirements associated with the rapid growth in the mid-west iron ore sector.

"The study will focus in particular on the short-term impacts of new start-up and growing hematite projects, which are aiming to capitalise on the current window of opportunity in the market. While at the same time laying the foundations for a long-term strategic transportation network in the mid-west region," Brown said.

Gindalbie managing director David McSweeney told MiningNews.net the existing infrastructure was adequate for the various stage 1 start-ups scheduled over the next 18 months, but planned stage 2 start-ups would require new port and rail infrastructure.

Of the companies that make up the Alliance, Mt Gibson is the most advanced, which is in the process of ramping up production at its flagship Tallering Peak mine from 2 million tonnes per annum to 3Mtpa, expected by the end of the year.

The next in line is Midwest, with the first ore from its 1Mtpa Koolanooka hematite project scheduled to be exported from the Port of Geraldton this week. The company also hopes to get its Weld Range hematite and Koolanooka magnetite project off the ground before 2010.

Murchison Metals isn't far behind, with a 1.2Mtpa start-up of its Jack Hills project scheduled for the first quarter of 2006. The company will also commence a feasibility study early this year on a 25Mtpa expansion that is expected to start by 2010.

Gindalbie, which yesterday raised $33 million, recently completed first-phase drilling at its Mt Karara magnetite deposit, with a resource estimation expected by the end of March. Initial drilling has also been completed at the hematite deposits.

Gindalbie is conducting a feasibility study on the production of direct shipping ore by mid-2007 from the hematite deposits, as well as pellet production by 2010 from the magnetite deposit. The study is expected to be complete by the end of this year.

And last but not least is GoldenWest, whose Wiluna project is located around 700km from the Port of Geraldton. The company has two targets over the next 12-18 months: to build a resource suitable to export high grade surface material at a rate of 500,000-1Mt per annum, and to evaluate how big the project could be.

The Alliance aims to promote the interests of the players in the mid-west region with the primary focus on developing infrastructure and relations with government and non-government agencies.