Iluka ready for more after first Portland rail run

<p>Iluka Resources is packing another trainload of mineral sands in Portland destined for Melbourne after Monday’s successful first run, processing manager Neil Stewart said today.</p> <p>The mineral sands miner recently signed a deal with growing Victorian rail operator El Zorro to haul 5,000 -7,000 tonnes of mineral sands a month in containers that can take 21-22 tonnes each.</p> <p>At present, due to Hamilton not having the infrastructure to cater for it, Iluka uses Swire bulk trucking firm Kalari to take product to Portland from Iluka’s processing plant near Hamilton, itself supplied by its Ouyen mine..</p> <p>Portland handles bulk shipment but not containers, so sands destined for containers are stuffed there and now trained to Melbourne.</p> <p>That operation was made possible by the reopening of the Portland-Maroona line after 18 months.</p> <p>Mr Stewart said Iluka was seeking a less involved supply chain but that would take time.</p> <p>Meanwhile, there had been a positive community response to its use of rail.</p> <br />