Metallica Minerals, an Australian bauxite developer, announced the company has identified three alternative logistics solutions to deliver bauxite from its Urquhart bauxite project. Metallica will finalise the solution and release an updated pre-feasibility study for the project by the end of December.
“Further regulatory approvals are required for all three alternatives and these are planned to be advanced, subject to a positive outcome from an updated pre-feasibility study for the project which will determine a selected development option and targeted to be complete by about the end of December 2019,” Metallica Minerals said.
The three potential logistic options identified include the building of a shiploader adjacent to the Urquhart Heavy Minerals Sands (HMS) Mining Lease (ML) owned by the JV, with a conveyor crossing over Robert Creek from the Urquhart Bauxite ML to the HMS ML; the construction of a shiploader adjacent to the Urquhart HMS ML owned by the JV and a 17-kilometre haul road from the Urquhart Bauxite resources through the HMS ML area, leading to the shiploader; and the construction of a barge-loading facility, which requires a jetty adjacent to the Urquhart Bauxite ML.
The company said a key component of the future shiploader options analysis will be working towards a funding solution as well as various government, traditional owner and stakeholder approvals, and agreement for the substantial CAPEX required for construction.(From Aluminium Network)