Karara iron ore project passed the final approval

November 5 MetalBiz--Australia's Gindalbie Metal Company claimed that Karara iron ore project in West Australia had gained the final approval of Federal Environment Ministry.

Karara project is developed by China's Ansteel and Australia's Gindalbie Metal Company, 500 kilometers away from northeast of perth, Australia. It is an important integrated iron ore development project in West Australia. In the following few decades, it will produce directly shipped ore (DSO) and super-magnetite and bring huge economic benefits for the mid-west of Australia and West Australia. 

Karara project passed the approval of West Australia Environmental Sector on September 9, and got the approval of Federal Environment Ministry recently, which mark the project obtained the final approval for on-spot construction and development works. For this project, it is an important turning point. Next week, the preliminary constructive activities such as project clearing and earthwork will carry out in Karara and will speed up the construction overall next year.

Presently, the project has begun to build the Lochada camp between Karara and Morawa, which can accommodate 300 workers involving in the project's construction. It is estimated to finish in December this year. Following, it will be responsible for the infrastructure construction of Karara. In the following 3 months, three main contracts valued U.S. $400mln will be approved finally by federal government, including earthworks, concrete, the design and layout of Karara as well as the construction of the ancillary facilities, and the other major contracts will also be approved in the subsequent months.

GarretDixon, executive director from Australia's Gindalbie Metal stated "it is a very exciting moment for us and our partner- Ansteel". It is estimated that it will provide 500 employments in the first construction stage of January, 2010, even increase increase to 1000 in June, which is of great significance to stimulate the economic development of Midwest regions. Presently the company puts eyes on effective project management, cost and schedule arrangement to ensure the start of the world-class iron ore project within the expected time and achieve the target of exporting super-magnetite to China intensively in 2011."