Atlas advancing new iron ore mine

Article by Noel Dyson courtesy of Mining News Net.

At McPhee, the plan is to haul 10 million tonnes per annum to Roy Hill for processing. From there the ore will be transported to Port Hedland for shipping.

Both Atlas Iron and Roy Hill are majority owned by Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting.

Besides MACA, Nyamal joint venture East West Pilbara-Ozland won a separate drill and blast mining services contract for McPhee.

Indigenous contractor EWP is a Nyamal-owned firm.

EWP-Ozland previously conducted civil and construction works at Atlas Iron’s Miralga mine.

The awarding of contracts to MACA and EWP-Ozland means more than 50% of the total number of major McPhee contracts have been awarded. There are another four major contracts to still be awarded.

The contract to haul the 10Mtpa to Roy Hill was split between MGM Group (60%) and Regroup (40%).

CEO Group Projects at Hancock Prospecting Group Sanjiv Manchanda said the McPhee project was another step in the integrated Hancock Prospecting development approach, focusing on the product strategy for the broader group.

“Atlas will continue to engage local and Indigenous contractors and maintain a practical approach to operations,” he said.

McPhee is expected to start operations in 2023-24 with first ore reaching Roy Hill in 2024-25, subject to the regulatory approvals being granted in early 2023 that will allow the contractors to mobilise to site and start the works under their respective contracts.