Mineral Resources’ (MinRes) Onslow Iron project in Western Australia is tipped to reach nameplate capacity of 35 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) in a matter of months.
The iron ore miner is currently undertaking additional works on the private haul road, with haulage performance anticipated to ramp up throughout the upgrade.
Transhipper four is also being commissioned and is expected to increase transhipping capacity to 28Mtpa. Transhipper five will arrive in April this year to further increase capacity to 35Mtpa.
MinRes hasn’t allowed WA’s recent wild weather to slow it down, with marine operations performing strongly just two weeks after Tropical Cyclone Zelia hit the Pilbara coast. The company has loaded over 60,000 tonnes per day into oceangoing vessels, implying an annualised run-rate of 20Mtpa.
“The installed mine, processing and port infrastructure have operated at or above nameplate capacity rates since commissioning,” MinRes said.
“Onslow Iron is well progressed to achieving its nameplate 35Mtpa capacity, which is expected in the first quarter of the 2025–26 financial year (FY26).”
The update on Onslow Iron follows MinRes’ announcement last week of the establishment of one of the largest transhipping operations in Australia.
Once Onslow Iron product reaches the Port of Ashburton, it will be shipped via an initial fleet of five transhippers to the awaiting ocean-going vessels (OGVs) anchored 40km offshore from the port.
Each transhipper has a 20,000-tonne capacity, a loading rate of 8000 tonnes per hour and an unloading rate of 6000 tonnes per hour.
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