It is reported that Atlas Iron has offered a lifeline to up to 70 mine workers at the soon to be shut Wodgina tantalum mine by offering to take them on for its fast expanding iron ore business.

Mr David Flanagan MD of Atlas said that as well as offering to take on Wodgina tantalum workers who will be shown the door by Global Advanced Metals at the end of this month, it provides Atlas with an opportunity to pick up qualified staff at a time of an acute skills shortage in the Pilbara.

Mr Flanagan wants to increase production across Atlas' Pilbara projects to 12 million tonnes by June 2013 and 46 million tonnes per annum in 2017.

The scale of his ambition was highlighted yesterday when Atlas conceded that bad weather in the Pilbara would cut this year's production to between 5.5 million tonnes and 5.7 million tonnes, compared with a target of 6 million tonnes. Bad weather associated with tropical cyclone Heidi cut Atlas shipments from Port Hedland this month from five to two.

Operational problems at Wodgina, which resulted in lower than expected high grade ore production, are also impeding Atlas.

(Sourced from www.thewest.com.au)