- Yilgarn Iron exports first shipment from Port of
Esperance - More than 176,000 tonnes of iron ore from the
Koolyanobbing operation en route to China - Delivers regional jobs and reactivates road and
rail corridors in the Goldfields-Esperance region
Iron ore exports from
Southern Ports’ Port of Esperance have received a major boost with Yilgarn Iron
completing its first shipment, delivering new jobs and renewed activity for the
region.
The five-day operation
saw more than 176,000 tonnes of iron ore loaded through the Port of Esperance
iron ore circuit onto the bulk carrier MV Densa Shark, which departed for China
on Saturday.
At full production,
Yilgarn Iron is targeting annual exports of more than four million tonnes,
supporting the creation of up to 15 new operational roles at the Port of
Esperance in early 2026 and increasing the port’s operations workforce by more
than a third.
Haulage from Yilgarn’s
operations recommenced in September, with the first trainloads of iron ore
reaching the Port of Esperance last month, reactivating transport corridors
linking the Yilgarn Hub with the port.
The shipment comes less
than 12 months after Mineral Resources’ final export from the Koolyanobbing
operations in the Yilgarn Hub, which were acquired by Yilgarn Iron Investments
in June.
Yilgarn Iron becomes the
second customer to use the port’s iron ore circuit, joining Gold Valley, which
has exported almost 2.5 million tonnes of iron ore through the Port of
Esperance since its first shipment in October 2024.
Comments attributed to Ports and Regional Development Minister Stephen
Dawson:
“It is fantastic to see
iron ore from the Yilgarn Hub once again moving through the Port of Esperance.
“More customers using the
iron ore circuit delivers real benefits for the economy and local jobs and
reflects Southern Ports’ continued progress in diversifying its trade across
the State’s southern regions.
“The Cook Government’s
targeted investment in port infrastructure such as the recent investment in the
Esperance iron ore circuit is helping unlock new export and employment
opportunities for the regions.”
Comments attributed to
Mines and Petroleum and Goldfields-Esperance Minister David Michael:
“Strong and efficient supply chains across the
Goldfields-Esperance region have allowed Yilgarn Iron to pick up where the
previous operator left off.
“It is pleasing to see the logistics of this operation come
together so quickly, delivering further job creation across the region.
“There is still significant life left in the Yilgarn, and we
welcome a new operator investing to unlock that potential.”
Comments attributed to Southern Ports chief executive officer
Keith Wilks:
“Having Yilgarn Iron come
on board as the Port of Esperance’s second iron ore exporter less than a year
on from the operations ceasing in the Yilgarn is a great result.
“Two customers using our
iron ore infrastructure means more volume and more shipments from our Port of
Esperance, which ultimately means more hours for our workforce on the ground.
“Trade losses are never
easy to weather, but by proactively pursuing opportunities to diversify our
customer base and commodity throughput we continue to be a reliable partner
creating enduring value across our regions.”
Comments
attributed to Yilgarn Iron Investments managing director Fergus Campbell:
“It was a pleasure being
in the Port of Esperance to watch the loading of our first shipment into the MV
Densa Shark. This is a fantastic milestone for Yilgarn Iron Pty Ltd, the
Yilgarn region and in particular the communities of Southern Cross and
Esperance.
“Exporting our first
176,000 tonnes within less than four months of assuming control of the
Yilgarn Iron Ore project is a testament to our hardworking and dedicated team,
as well as to our suppliers and service providers, including Southern Ports and
Aurizon.
“We look forward to
continuing to unlock the value of the Yilgarn’s iron ore resources and shaping
a positive future for company, country and community for many more years.