Midwest in battle for Oakajee port and rail project

<p>Midwest Corp would become a foundation user of the railway and port planned by Yilgarn Infrastructure around Oakajee, the miner revealed yesterday (Monday, September 24) as the politics of infrastructure in the Mid West region of Western Australia became increasingly controversial.</p> <p>Midwest Corp revealed yesterday Midwest and Yilgarn Infrastructure had formalised exclusive arrangements to deliver infrastructure in accord with the <em>Iron Ore (Murchison) Agreement Authorisation Act </em> (Midwest’s State Agreement Act). </p> <p>Midwest chief executive Bryan Oliver said that signing the formal agreement with Yilgarn provided a lead for other existing and intending iron ore producers in the region. </p> <p>&#8220As a foundation user, Midwest Corporation is undertaking to commit to Yilgarn’s independently funded, built and operated infrastructure,&#8221 he said. </p> <p>&#8220An important provision of the agreement is that other producers who sign up as foundation users will do so on similar commercial terms to Midwest’s.&#8221 </p> <p>Mr Oliver said Midwest Corp would continue working with Yilgarn in accord with Midwest’s State Agreement Act to progress development of the infrastructure as quickly as possible. </p> <p>&#8220We look forward to constructively working with the State Government, the Mid West community and other users to construct critical port and rail infrastructure in accord with Midwest’s State Agreement Act,&#8221 Mr Oliver said.</p> <p>However, the statement came as infrastructure minister Alannah MacTiernan confirmed the State Government would reject its 30-year-old state agreement that gave Midwest Corp the sole right to develop the Oakajee project &#8211 a move that could force Midwest and rival Oakajee developer and miner Murchison Metals into a competitive tender process, the <em>Australian Financial Review</em> noted.</p> <p>Complicating the matter is an international dimension whereby Chinese interests back Midwest Corp and Japanese interests, the Murchison plan.</p> <p>State cabinet is to discuss the issue today (Tuesday, September 25) </p> <br />