World first high tech iron ore shipment from Darwin port
NT Bullion, the owners of the rebirthed Frances Creek Mine near Pine Creek, will load and export its first 30,000 tonnes of hi-tech lump iron ore today.
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NT Bullion, the owners of the rebirthed Frances Creek Mine near Pine Creek, will load and export its first 30,000 tonnes of hi-tech lump iron ore today.
The ore, which leaves the Port of Darwin this afternoon, is the first in the world where every individual rock has been X-rayed and scanned.
NT Bullion has invested millions in new German technology from Steinert, originally designed to sort plastics and metal, which it has been using as part of its initial clean up of the mine site’s surface ore.
NT Bullion has taken the technology and developed an entirely new system that crushes, grades and scans each individual rock via X-rays and lasers.
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Managing Director, Rod Illingworth said Frances Creek has been in continuous production and improvement since NT Bullion reopened the abandoned mine two years ago.
“Now we are on track to produce enough tonnage for regular shipments as we move to open cut mining at the mine’s original footprint,” Mr Illingworth said.
“Not only are we rehabilitating the mine, we are lowering the cost of mining and the amount of carbon required to make a ton of steel because less energy is needed to process the ore.”
“We are so proud of the local know-how and sheer effort that has gone into this project during this Covid pandemic resulting in a fully operational Northern Territory asset that benefits from local employment, strong indigenous shareholding and community engagement.
“The development of this world leading technology not only helps resolve rehabilitation challenges with all mines, it also contributes to the worldwide challenge of using less carbon to produce steel.”
Mr Illingworth said. NT Bullion has worked closely with Steinert Australia to maximise the processes and production of the lump iron ore.
“We believe there are enormous opportunities to expand and grow this ore sorting technology for the Northern Territory’s other remote and stranded mining assets,” Mr Illingworth said.
Joint NT Bullion partner, Roy Jansan, said the rebirth of Frances Creek has meant dozens of jobs for locals.
He said the company has worked hard to engage the locals for jobs and the large amount of maintenance and rebuilding required, particularly Pine Creek and Katherine communities.
“We have been producing this unique iron lump ore for the past 12 months in batches, all of which have been tested at Pine Creek and again at international laboratories in Perth, moved to the rail siding, railed to the port and then stored in separate piles to ensure quality and consistency,” Mr Jansan said.
“We would not have been able to achieve this amazing outcome during Covid and the wet season without the complete commitment from our local employees and managers.
“As an indigenous partner, we have been very thankful for the support of the local communities and the Northern Lands Council, in working in a cooperative manner to bring the project back into full production and scale.”
NT Bullion said it has also received strong support from the NT Government Mining and Industry Minister, Nicole Manison and her Mines department.
“All of what we have achieved would not have been possible without the strong support of local Territory businesses which are prepared to stand by and support these sorts of projects, as they can see the benefit to the Northern Territory.,” Mr Jansan said.
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