A REHABILIATED mine site in the Northern Territory, expected to produce 1.2 million wet tonnes of magnetite concentrate annually, has shipped its first despatch to Asia.
The inaugural shipment of magnetite from the Warrego Rehabilitation Project, marks what the Territory’s mining and energy minister Gerard Maley called a significant milestone in legacy mine remediation and economic growth for the Territory.
The project, under Australian private company Northern Iron Pty Ltd, involves the recovery of magnetite – a form of iron ore – from the re-processing of tailings at the historical Warrego mine site, located 50 kilometres northwest of Tennant Creek.
Expected to have a mine life of three years, the mine currently employs about 35 people.
Magnetite is a highly magnetic and dense mineral, allowing it to be effectively separated from other tailings material in the processing plant using a combination of water and magnetism, to form a magnetite concentrate.
It is highly sought after in low-emissions steel production.
Mr Maley said the project was a prime example of how legacy mine sites could deliver both environmental and economic benefits, particularly for regional areas.
“The Warrego Rehabilitation Project is exactly the type of innovation the CLP Government is supporting – it’s creating jobs, addressing legacy mine issues, and producing a valuable resource,” said Mr Maley.
“The first shipment of 47,100 tonnes of magnetite concentrate shows how historical mining sites can be rehabilitated in a way that creates local jobs while driving economic benefits and long-term sustainability.”
Processing at the Warrego site began in October 2024, with the magnetite concentrate railed from Tennant Creek to Darwin Port in December 2024 for export to Asian markets.
The Warrego Rehabilitation Project is an example of how legacy mine remediation and value creation can be done in parallel and supports the CLP Government’s commitment to ensuring legacy mine sites are managed responsibly.
“The modular design of the Warrego processing plant means it can be relocated and reused at other legacy mine sites in the Tennant Creek region, driving further economic activity while continuing to reduce environmental liabilities,” said Mr Maley.
