30 July 2014
Cole Latimer
Ferret
The Roy Hill iron ore mine has hit a milestone, reaching the construction halfway point.
The mine has been ramping up progress at the site since the successful completion of a US$ 7.2 billion loan facility in March, which was the biggest in the world at the time.
Close to 5000 people will work on the project, with more than 3800 workers currently on site and the number set to increase to 4500 later this year.
The mine is also on track to ship first ore late next year.
Speaking of the passing the 50 per cent point, Roy Hill CEO Barry Fitzgerald said “reaching the halfway mark of construction is a significant milestone and is an endorsement of the high level of planning and preparation exhibited, by not only Roy Hill but also from our shareholders and contractors, to ensure we deliver what we say we will deliver”.
“While I recognise we still have a long way to go before we deliver first ore on ship in 2015, without the vision and drive of our chair Mrs Rinehart, and support and commitment of our equity partners and quality contractors, we would not be where we are today,” he added.
To date more than 11.7 million hours have been worked on the development of the site, with around a three quarters of the committed $8.4 billion expenditure of the project going to Australian suppliers.
More than half a million tonnes of high grade iron ore have been stockpiled, five of the 11 rail bridges are constructed, more than 70 kilometres of rail has been laid, and the first mineral processing plant steel modules have been delivered.
Courtesy of Ferret