Centrex Metals is now one step closer to establishing an export hub on the east coast of the Eyre Peninsula. The Program for Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation for an iron ore mine near Lock was approved by the South Australian government. The Wilgerup project is the 18th licensed mine in the state.
The chief executive of the South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy, Jason Kuchel said that the approval is the first step in showing the capacity of the Eyre Peninsula to be a significant iron ore province.
The managing director Jim White of Centrex Metals said that the approval lines up the first of what they are targeting to be a number of commercial hematite and magnetite iron ore deposits that will be simultaneously mined and exported from their proposed new deep-water bulk commodities port at Sheep Hill.
Mr White said that they anticipated that Wilgerup will produce between 1 million tonnes and 1.5 million tonnes per annum for up to seven years. The company has a number of iron deposits from Port Lincoln to west of Whyalla.
Mineral Resources Development Minister Tom Koutsantonis said Centrex Metals has big plans to turn the Eyre Peninsula into a multi-mine iron ore production hub which will create hundreds of jobs and major investment in infrastructure. Centrex aims to begin exports in late 2014 or early 2015.