Venture Minerals has told the ASX it has started construction of a processing plant at its Riley Mine

A West Coast mining operation has told the ASX construction has started on its mine a month after conservationists released drone footage of an empty project site, claiming it had been abandoned.

• Mines Minister slams Green abandonment claims
• Mining company says ‘no truth at all’ to abandonment claims

VENTURE Minerals has told the Australian Stock Exchange that construction of a wet screening plant at its Riley Mine at Tullah is under way.

The announcement comes a month after conservationists released drone footage of an empty project site and claimed the company had abandoned its Tasmanian iron ore operation.

The company later told a shareholder meeting in Perth, trucks and other machines had been removed from the site because they had broken down.

Venture told the ASX a successful completion of a mining and dry-screening trial had produced 2000 tonnes of “high-specification” product.

Environmentalists claimed that Venture Minerals has packed up its iron ore mining operations at Tullah last month. Picture: Supplied

That product has now been sent to its offtake partner Prosperity Steel for review and approval.

Venture Managing Director Andrew Radonjic said Venture’s board had committed to stage one of the construction of a wet screening plant as part of its ramp up towards full scale production.

“The iron ore price remains strong and the company remains focused on determining the best mining and screening method to reduce costs and environmental impacts so we can generate jobs, contracting opportunities and returns to our shareholders,” he said.

Site works for the plant have already started, he said.