Flinders Mines is considering at least 7 infrastructure options to export its iron ore to a West Australian port.
Mr Kevin Wills MD of Flinders Mines said that the company’s 100% owned current 550 million tonne Inferred and Indicated Resource 175 kilometers south of Dampier, south of Pilbara is well located.
He said that it is near the province’s existing rail and port networks and discussions for mine gate sales and third party access were continuing satisfactorily with a number of parties. The 7 shipment options are currently under detailed review as part of the pre feasibility study and I am expecting the PFS being undertaken by Worley Parsons to be completed by October this year.
Mr Wills said that “Importantly, the Pilbara iron project does offer numerous short-term and long term infrastructure development solutions for both rail and port legs of mining, shipping and exporting our ore to global markets. This choice has been aided by more recent developments in the Pilbara including the Western Australian Government’s decision to back a new multi user port at Anketell, 30 kilometers east of Karratha. He added that Flinders Mines expected to commence its Bankable Feasibility Study for the project in the December quarter this year having already drilled more than 1,000 holes on the Pilbara project.”
The company said that the 2010 drilling program commenced only a week ago and soon three Reverse Circulation drill rigs will be working 7 days per week, drilling an estimated 12 holes a day to continue to prove up and improve the project’s resource.
Part of the current campaign is aimed at testing open intersections and higher grade areas to increase the project’s resource size, JORC status and grade, particularly at the flagship Delta prospect. Delta has been targeted as a likely first open cut low cost mining operation and is being considered for fast tracking to potentially allow Flinders Mines to commission the project’s first mine towards the end of 2012 focused around Direct Shipping Ore mining opportunities.
