https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/m ... ills-mine/Metro Mining makes FID to expand Bauxite Hills mine in Australia
By NS Energy Staff Writer 30 Jun 2022
The expansion includes the construction and mobilisation of a second floating crane barge (FCB), upgrading the existing screening, conveying and barge loading facilities, and scaling up of the current haulage and transhipment fleets
Metro Mining has made a Final Investment Decision (FID) to expand the capacity of its Bauxite Hills Mine in Queensland, Australia from four million wet metric tonnes (MWMT) per annum to 7MWMT per annum.
The company estimates the total capital expenditure for the expansion to be at A$28.3m ($19.5m). It intends to finance the expansion from a combination of internal cash flow and external sources.
Works under the expansion project include the construction and mobilisation of a second floating crane barge (FCB) to Skardon River.
When combined with the existing FCB, the new barge is expected to enable the company to load more than the targeted 7MWMT per annum capacity.
Works also include optimisation and upgrading of the existing screening, conveying and barge loading facilities, and scaling up of the current haulage and transhipment fleets.
The expansion requires no further traditional owner, environmental or regulatory approvals, as the company has already secured approval to mine up to 10MWMT per annum.
The company has signed an additional binding offtake with Xinfa Aluminium Group for 5MWMT in 2023 and for a 6MWMT in 2024.
Metro Mining managing director and chief executive officer Simon Wensley said: “Expanding to 7MWMT pa is perfectly timed to respond to bauxite market conditions expected to be very strong in the next few years.
The floating crane barge (FCB). (Credit: Metro Mining Ltd.)
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Pas terrible ce système d'amenée du minerai par barge au minéralier. Ca doit être très dépendant de la météo contrairement à un terminal en eaux profonde.
Bon, je suppose que les conditions locales ne se prêtent pas à réaliser un port en eau profonde.