Mineral Resources has loaded its first train from its newly acquired Koolyanobbing iron ore mine, 180 kilometres west of Kalgoorlie in south-central Western Australia.
The Perth-based, ASX-listed miner acquired Koolyanobbing from Cleveland-Cliffs in June.
The 106-wagon train, made up of Mineral Resources rollingstock and carrying 7,488 tonnes of iron ore fines, departed Koolyanobbing for the Port of Esperance this week.
At Esperance, Mineral Resources will begin stockpiling iron ore for its first shipment, due within the next four weeks.
The company said it has received strong support from Arc Infrastructure, which owns the track between Koolyanobbing and Esperance.
MinRes chief executive Chris Ellison called the train loading “a significant milestone” for the company, and communities in the Yilgarn region and Esperance.
“When we decided earlier this year to take on the Koolyanobbing operations previously operated by Cleveland-Cliffs Inc, we did so because of our firm belief we could sustain a viable iron ore export operation in the region and safeguard hundreds of jobs in regional Western Australia,” Ellison said.
“This successful outcome would not have been possible without the great assistance of Premier Mark McGowan and his Government, the leadership team at the Esperance port and Paul Larsen and his team at Arc Infrastructure.
“We look forward to building up our iron ore stockpiles at the port of Esperance ahead of loading our first ship before the end of this year.”
MinRes says the Koolyanobbing operation will provide 285 direct jobs, and indirect employment for roughly 415 additional workers.