Arrium Mining has recently achieved a significant milestone in the history of its export operations, with the loading of its 200th Cape Vessel with iron ore bound for China.
The achievement means Arrium Mining– in conjunction with its various contractors who carry out the export operations – has now successfully exported 34 million tonnes of ore under the program.
Arrium Mining Chief Executive Greg Waters revealed the loading of the 200th cape vessel – the MV Cape Monemvasia – was further proof of the company’s capability to meet its stated targets.
“We began loading Cape Vessels in April 2007 after the Project Magnet conversion enabled us to use magnetite ore to feed the Steelworks, thus creating an entirely new revenue stream through the sale of our hematite ore. This achievement is the result of some excellent work by the entire Arrium Mining team, however I must also acknowledge the efforts of our contractors whose support and expertise have been pivotal in continually improving our export stream, ” Mr Waters said.
Mr Waters revealed the contractors play an integral role in the company’s business, which included CSL (transhipping), GWA (train services), BIS (export storage and shiploading), HWE and now BGC (mining), BHP Billiton (freight and marketing support), Svitzer (towage services) and Wilhelmsen (shipping).
These milestones would be achieved even more frequently now, Mr Waters believes, due to export operations scheduled to reach a run rate of 12 million tonnes per year by mid-2013.
“We have managed to load our second batch of 100 cape vessels faster than the first 100, so our overall efficiency is already improving. When this is combined with the ramping-up of our new inner harbor export facility, we will see an even greater increase in our annual export rate,” he said.
Arrium Mining revealed this is already underway, with a second ore storage shed now commissioned and ready to export ores blended from both Middleback ranges and Southern Iron operations.
“As well as being of great benefit to our company, these improved export operations will continue to have significant benefits for the communities in which we operate. It is therefore important that we acknowledge the significance of this achievement and look forward to reaching even greater milestones in the near future, Mr Waters added.
