The plight of stranded iron ore deposits has been highlighted in the lead-up to this year’s Diggers & Dealers conference as embattled Murchison Metals ramps up efforts to offload its once coveted stake in the Oakajee port and rail project (OPR).

Despite the recent wave of consolidation among Pilbara juniors fortunate enough to be close to existing infrastructure, the future of the Mid West region has been under a cloud of uncertainty after foundation customers baulked at the tariff structure proposed by OPR supporters.