Australian Mining Company Rutila Resources flags new Pilbara iron ore project

Australian mining company Rutila Resources – Flinders mine Pilbara iron ore project

Junior Australian mining company in talks over Pilbara rail and port project

Just when we have been bombarded and beaten with the news of the shrinking price of iron ore per tonne, an Australian�junior mining company�has come out fighting.

Rutila Resources is in negotiations with the West Australian government to develop an iron ore port and railway project in the Pilbara.

The project centres around the Flinders mine development which is situated between Port Hedland and Karratha. The Flinders mine has a large deposit of iron ore with some 25 million tonnes per annum expected to leave the mine when it is in full production. Indications are the private railway will connect the proposed mine to the Balla Balla Port.

The Balla Balla export facility will allow for magnetite concentrate to be shipped via barges to waiting ships some 20 kilometres out to sea.

Already, environmental approvals and access from most native title participants, pastoralists and tenement holders have been granted for the Balla Balla joint venture project between Rutila and the Todd Corporation.

Rutila announced it would start negotiations with the WA government after Premier Colin Barnett said negotiations for the state-significant project could move forward.

The engineering and design for the port and rail facilities has already started with construction expected to start at the end of 2015. Of course this is again subject to a final investment decision to finance the project.

This is another iron ore project worth following in 2015. With global prices for iron ore bottoming out, this is heartening news for the industry. Even in turbulent times, there are still mining companies in Australia that have the vision and courage to develop new mines, despite the tough conditions.

Despite a tough 2014, the next year in mining will be unpredictable, with new projects getting off the ground an a new set of employment opportunities being created in the meantime.

Stay ahead of iron ore news and discover where the mining jobs of the future are in 2015.

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