Mineral Resources’ Onslow Iron project, formerly known as the Ashburton project, has begun early works to support the first ore ship in December 2023.
Onslow Iron will use Mineral Resources’ innovative and proprietary technology to process and transfer bulk commodities at cheaper prices and with a reduced environmental footprint to unlock stranded resources that would otherwise stay underdeveloped in Western Australia’s West Pilbara area.
“Importantly, our innovations will drive lower emissions across the project. Onslow Iron has been designed with a low environmental footprint and will be dust-free from pit-to-port,” Mineral Resources Managing Director Chris Ellison said.
After receiving preliminary approvals, project preparations are on schedule, and early construction operations, including bulk earthworks, have begun at the Port of Ashburton. The temporary construction community is being built at the neighbouring Truck Maintenance Facility, with the first structures set to go up in early September.
“Onslow Iron will be transformational, not just for MinRes but for the State of Western Australia. This project will be the cornerstone of our iron ore strategy to deliver low-cost, long-life operations with project economics that are compelling through commodity price cycles,” Ellison stated.
Mine development activities have also progressed at the Ken’s Bore Deposit, with constructing the A320-capacity airport and installing two camps to support drilling and early construction works.
Recruitment for the Onslow Iron construction phase is also well underway, with continued emphasis on community and stakeholder consultation.
Onslow Iron will be one of Western Australia’s most significant iron ore developments. It is set to bring significant benefits to the State, including thousands of construction and operational jobs, billions of dollars in direct local investment through capital expenditure, and billions of dollars of State and Commonwealth royalties over the project’s life.
“It’s in our DNA to aim higher, push the boundaries, and forge new paths, which is why Onslow Iron really represents a new paradigm for mining in WA,” Ellison said.
