BULK CARRIER MV Sifnos carrying more than 78,000 tonnes of iron ore has set sail for China with the first Gold Valley shipment from Esperance port.
The shipment demonstrated the Port of Esperance’s multi-user capability for its iron ore circuit being used for the first time by two exporters sharing its assets, including shed space, ship loader and berth.
Gold Valley joined Mineral Resources Limited as the Port of Esperance’s second iron ore customer when a deal was agreed upon with Southern Ports in August.
Delivery of Gold Valley’s iron ore started in October with a 900-kilometre journey by truck and rail from the Wiluna West mine site to Esperance ahead of the export.
A vital link in the Port of Esperance’s iron ore circuit was upgraded in the lead up to the milestone shipment through the state government’s $2.8 million investment in conveyor replacements.
In a media release announcing the shipment Ports Minister David Michael said Southern Ports opening its Port of Esperance to a second iron ore customer is another example of how the ports sector is driving economic benefits for the southern regions of Western Australia.
