FREMANTLE Ports on Wednesday announced work would start next month on a new $55-million clinker import circuit facility at the Kwinana Bulk Terminal in the Outer Harbour.
The new facility is intended to streamline the importation of clinker, the principal element in cement. The facility will consist of a storage dome nearly 40 metres high and a covered conveyor network.
More than 1.1 million tonnes a year of clinker are imported through Kwinana Bulk Terminal, destined for domestic, commercial and industrial construction projects throughout Western Australia.
Around half comes from Indonesia, with the remainder from Japan, Malaysia, Philippines and the United Arab Emirates.
Fremantle Ports CEO Michael Parker said the new clinker circuit would link directly to the adjacent Cockburn Cement plant and deliver efficiency benefits to the state’s other major clinker importer, BGC.
“Without clinker industry stops and every tonne of the commodity entering WA comes through Kwinana Bulk Terminal,” Mr Parker said.
Mr Parker said the storage dome would be able to hold an entire shipment of clinker – around 40,000 tonnes – with this project replacing cargo-handling assets that do not have the same capacity and are near end-of-life.
The facility is scheduled to be in use by the second quarter of 2024.
“This is a very exciting investment, because it not only offers our customers improved efficiencies and supports the construction industry in WA, but cargo-handling will be faster, meaning there will be gains for our customers and also in terms of ship turnaround times at berth,” Mr Parker said.
WA minister for state development and Deputy Premier Roger Cook officiated today at a ground-breaking ceremony on-site, also attended by representatives from Cockburn Cement, BGC, principal contractor COVA-Haywards, Kwinana Industries Council and the cities of Kwinana and Rockingham.
“This project is consistent with our long-term planning to facilitate trade through the Port of Fremantle into the future,” Mr Parker said.
He said the clinker project was the latest in a succession of new developments in the Kwinana industrial area, benefitting local communities and supporting jobs.
“Our aspiration is to provide the most reliable, safe and sustainable facilities through which importers and exporters can conduct trade,” he said.
