Tag Archives: Iluka Resources

Grounded Construction ahead of schedule at Iluka’s Cataby mineral sands project

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Grounded Construction Group has made a fast start on its contract for installing two mining villages and a mine infrastructure administration and maintenance facility for Iluka Resources’ Cataby mineral sands project in the Perth Basin of Western Australia.

The company recently handed over the keys to Iluka, ahead of schedule, after the completion of two stages of its work on the A$275 million ($201 million) project.

The recent completion of stage one and two took place over six months for Tronox Ltd in Cataby and Iluka Resources in Dandgaragan. Stage one included a 260-person mining village, with the greenfield site requiring bulk earthworks, concreting, sealed roads and the transport of buildings.

“As with all Grounded Construction Group projects, best practice methods were used to install accommodation facilities,” the company said. The entire project included the installation of all waste and water treatment plants, electrical, plumbing, communications, bitumen roads, line-marking and car parks.

Stage two in Dandgaragan included the building of a 180-person elevated campsite. Similar to stage one, the project included bulk earthworks, concreting, construction of sealed roads, transportation of buildings and cranage. It also involved waste and water treatment plants, electrical, plumbing, communications, bitumen roads, line-marking, car parks and the installation of a maintenance shed.

Paul Natoli, Grounded’s Managing Director, said: “Our team of project managers and contractors have all worked cohesively and cooperatively to complete these two major stages ahead of schedule and on budget.”

Grounded is currently working on the beginning stages of stage three.

The Cataby mineral sands deposit is a chloride ilmenite deposit with associated zircon and rutile production. It is expected to have an economic life of around eight-and-a-half years.

Heavy mineral concentrate produced at the site will be processed into final products at Iluka’s Narngulu mineral separation plant. The chloride ilmenite product will be suitable for both sale or as a feed source for the production of synthetic rutile.

The project was approved in December 2017 with first production expected in the June quarter of 2019.

Cater Care expands Iluka partnership to Western Australia

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Australia-based Cater Care has been awarded the national catering and facility management services contract for mineral sands miner Iluka Resources.

The contract includes the catering, accommodation and facility management services at four of Iluka’s Australia sites.

Cater Care’s remote division has already worked at Iluka’s Jacinth-Ambrosia (South Australia, pictured) and Ouyen (Victoria) mines and, with this contract, will add Cataby and Eneabba to its Western Australia contract portfolio.

Chief Operating Officer of Cater Care’s remote division, Denis Andre, said: “Our integrated approach to service delivery means we focus on all aspects of remote life, which we know has its own unique set of requirements. It’s also why we believe we’ll add real value to their two new sites.”

Iluka Head of Business Development Julian Andrews said Cater Care’s submission showed a good understanding of the market and presented a solution that met Iluka’s business requirements.

“Cater Care’s submission to bring all of our remote site catering, accommodation and facility management services under one contract was the best we received. Cater Care have shown a commitment to delivering high quality food and services at Jacinth-Ambrosia and Ouyen for the last 10 years and we look forward to that continuing at Cataby and Eneabba,” he said.