Tag Archives: Wyndham Port

Newhaul Bulk JV to serve Mackay potash project in Western Australia

Energy minerals, Mineral project development, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

Agrimin and Newhaul Pty Ltd have formed a 50:50 incorporated joint venture named Newhaul Bulk Pty Ltd to provide road haulage and maintenance services for the Mackay potash project in Western Australia.

Craig Mitchell, the Founder and Former Owner of Mitchell Corp, one of the largest suppliers of trucking and bulk logistics services to Western Australia’s mining industry prior to being acquired by Toll Group in 2011, has been appointed CEO of the new joint venture.

The JV will provide Agrimin with benefits, including:

  • The potential for cost savings over the project’s 20-year life through the elimination of management role duplication, sharing the benefits of innovation and maximising locally sourced labour;
  • De-risking product haulage by using a proven Western Australia bulk logistics operator, while retaining control of the logistics chain;
  • Greater transparency relating to a future haulage contract; and
  • Development of driver training programs in order to maximise the opportunity to use local and Indigenous truck drivers.

The establishment of Newhaul Bulk, in partnership with an experienced operator, represents a significant milestone in the risk management and reduction of costs in relation to Agrimin’s future product haulage, Agrimin said.

The contract terms relating to the provision of haulage services for the initial 20-year project life are to be agreed in due course and, pursuant to a future haulage contract, to be executed between Agrimin and Newhaul Bulk.

Newhaul Bulk’s haulage operation is planned to include a fleet of around 24 road trains to transport 426,000 t/y of potash from Lake Mackay to Wyndham Port, where Agrimin’s proposed shiploading facility will be located.

“Newhaul Bulk has been established with the clear objective of maximising the employment of local and Indigenous people involved with the haulage of Agrimin’s potash production,” the company said. “A plan to achieve this includes the development of driver training centres and job readiness programs in regional communities, including Kununurra and Halls Creek.”

Kerman to work on Wyndham Port facility for Agrimin Mackay potash project

Energy minerals, Industrial minerals, Mineral project development, Mining services, , , , ,

Having recently selected a suitable export site at Wyndham Port for its Mackay potash project in Western Australia, Agrimin has awarded Kerman Contracting the engineering design contract for the facility.

The Wyndham port facility is planned to include a truck unloading hopper, covered storage sheds, granulation equipment, workshops and offices, with Kerman selected on the basis that it has suitable experience and capabilities to undertake both the engineering design and subsequent construction of the above aspects of the facility.

Agrimin said it intends to engage a separate contractor for the design and construction of the associated barge loading facility, while geotechnical and topographic work programs had been completed at the site, with Kerman having commenced the engineering design for the definitive feasibility study.

A prefeasibility study for the Mackay project, 785 km south of the Port of Wyndham, envisaged the process plant having a capacity of 426,000 t/y of sulphate of potash as a dry granular product, with the same study assuming a product mix of 50% granular and 50% standard product.

Kerman, earlier this month, was awarded a contract by Albemarle Lithium on the greenfield lithium hydroxide production plant in Kemerton, Western Australia.