Acting
Minister for Mineral Resources Development Michael Wright yesterday announced the
final go ahead for South
Australia’s newest mining project.
Mr Wright
says formal approval of the Operations Mining and Rehabilitation Program allows
Perth-based Iluka Resources to begin production at its world-class Jacinth
Ambrosia Heavy Mineral Sands project located in the Eucla Basin.
The
Operations MARP ensures this new mine meets the highest environmental standards,
he says.
“Investment in the project will contribute more than $470 million to the
State’s economy, as well as providing royalties and export income for South Australia,” Mr
Wright says.
“Importantly for South
Australia, this project will generate 110 permanent jobs
during the operation of the mine and up to 250 jobs during the construction
phase, as well as many more jobs in the industries that will support the mine
and its workers.
“A large
percentage of these new jobs will be filled locally and include indigenous
workers.
“This new mine will also contribute about 3-5% of the South Australian
Strategic Plan’s target for mineral production of $3 billion by
2014.
“The
Jacinth-Ambrosia project also marks a major shift in production of this valuable
resource from Western Australia to South
Australia.”
The mine
site, located 200 kilometres from Ceduna, is expected to be commissioned in the
first quarter of 2010 and provide continuous operations for more than a
decade.
“The
Jacinth Ambrosia project is already contributing significant economic and social
benefits to South
Australia, and in particular Ceduna and the State’s West
Coast,” Mr Wright says.
“An
all-weather haulage and access
road is being constructed from the Eyre Highway to the mine site for delivery
of mine supplies and the haulage of heavy mineral concentrate to Ceduna for
shipping.
The
Jacinth-Ambrosia Mine will annually produce 300,000 tonnes of zircon, 30,000
tonnes of rutile and 160,000 tonnes of ilmenite per annum during the initial
years of production, minerals that are key components in many everyday products
such as ceramics and paint.
Minister for Environment and Conservation
Jay Weatherill has also formally endorsed the Operations MARP, as the mining
tenements are located in Yellabinna and Nullarbor Regional Reserves. The
Department for
Environment and Heritage manages these two regional reserves. |
