TOTAL throughput of more than 3.3bn tonnes was the standout achievement of Pilbara Port Authority’s five years of operation, according to management.
PPA became a reality on 1 July 2014, an amalgamation of the port authorities of Port Hedland and Dampier.
Chief executive Roger Johnston said direction from the board and the adoption of “industry-leading practices” were contributing factors.
“High calibre people and world-leading technologies are the cornerstones of our ongoing success, allowing us to safely export more products more efficiently,” Mr Johnston said.
“We’re also lucky to work in great Pilbara communities like Dampier, Karratha, Onslow and Port Hedland where local people work for us, or closely with us, ensuring we deliver the best outcomes for industry, the region and Western Australia,” he said.
As well as Dampier and Port Hedland, PPA now encompasses the Port of Ashburton and the future ports of Anketell, Balla Balla and Cape Preston East.
It is to also assume oversight of the Shipping and Pilotage Act 1967 ports of Port Walcott, Cape Preston, Barrow Island, Varanus Island and Onslow in coming years.
Other statistical highlights included:
- Delivering a dividend return to the state of $767.7m
- 97,685 safe vessel movements
- Exporting about 50% of the world’s seaborne iron ore
- The Southern Hemisphere’s first LNG bunkering operation in Dampier in January 2017
- The first shipment of LNG leaving from Ashburton in October 2017
- Rolling out the award-winning Mangrove Mates program to 1326 students across 13 schools across the Pilbara.
